Trump restores Iran port blockade and vows to impose 20% tariff on goods passing through Hormuz
President Donald Trump said the US is restoring the embargo on Iranian shipping and will impose a 20% tariff on all goods sent through the Strait of Hormuz, following days of increasing tensions between the two countries.
He said this would stop “Iranian vessels or customers” entering or leaving the key oil shipping route, but “all other countries will use the Strait in a fair and open manner”. The blockade will begin at 16:00 Eastern Time (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Iran’s foreign minister responded that Tehran will remain the “GUARDIAN” of the strait – using Trump’s words.
The US military later said it had “launched a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran”.
US Central Command (Centcom) said the strikes began at 16:45 Eastern Time (20:45 GMT) on Monday “on the order of the Commanding Officer”.
“These strikes will continue to impose heavy costs on Iran’s military and undermine its ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” Centcom said.
Iran’s military said it was targeting US troops in Kuwait, Iranian state media reported.
Tehran and Washington clashed over control of the strait on Monday after exchanging strikes in the region on Sunday night.
In Trump’s Truth Social post on Monday, he insisted that the crisis “will remain OPEN, with or without Iran”.
“The USA will be, from this point forward, known as the “GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” but as a result, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, it will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% of all goods shipped, for any costs necessary to perform the task of providing safety and security in this very volatile part of the world,” he wrote.
The US president added that “the process and formation will begin soon”.
His comments come shortly after he told Fox News that the US would “probably manage” the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran had “violated” the deal with the US.
“We’re taking over,” he said.
Later on Monday, the US Central Command (Centcom) said its forces would “resume blocking maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports” on July 14.
“The US military continues to support traffic in regional waters so that all vessels do not breach the blockade,” Centcom said in a statement.
Last Friday, Trump informed Congress in a letter, seen by the BBC, that the US had resumed war on Iran on July 7.
Federal law requires congressional approval to continue military operations for more than 60 days. The White House could extend the deadline for another 30 days, citing national security concerns.
In response to Trump The announcement of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X: “The POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides the safe and secure passage of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service.”
He went on to say: “Iran has always been the GUEST of the Straits and will remain so FOREVER.”
“Of course 20% is too much. We will do well,” added Araghchi.
