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Trump Reinstates Iran Blockade, Declares U.S. 'Guardian of Hormuz,' Calls for 20% Cargo Fee

Jul 15, 2026

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President Donald Trump announced the United States will reinstate its blockade of Iranian shipping and impose a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz — an unprecedented assertion of U.S. control over one of the world's most critical maritime routes.

In a Truth Social post Monday, Trump declared the strait "is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," and said the U.S. would assume the title of "THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT." He added that a 20% fee on all transiting cargo would reimburse the U.S. for providing security. The blockade targets only Iranian ships and customers; all other nations retain open access.

 

Blockade Background

The move follows four consecutive waves of U.S. strikes against Iranian military targets after Tehran resumed attacks on merchant shipping, collapsing the June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. TankerTrackers estimates over 80 million barrels of Iranian crude — worth more than $6 billion — departed during the 26-day ceasefire, with roughly 30 million barrels still yet to leave.

Weekend Strikes and Shipping Incident

On Sunday, CENTCOM completed fresh strikes against Iranian air defense systems, radar sites, missile capabilities, and IRGC small boats — the first reported combat use of U.S. one-way attack sea drones. The strikes followed the attack on the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy east of Oman, which left one crew member missing and forced abandonment of the vessel.

Competing Claims and Legal Tensions

Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority declared transit "currently unfeasible" and suspended permit processing — a direct counter to Washington's position. The Strait carries roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption, and under UNCLOS, all nations generally hold the right of transit passage through international straits.

The proposed fee also conflicts with the IMO Council's 137th session resolution, which reaffirmed non-discriminatory transit rights and explicitly opposed tolls or charges on Hormuz passage. How the U.S. will implement either the blockade or the fee — including assessment, collection, and legal authority — remains unclear, with no executive order or formal framework released.