Trump says US will become ‘guardian’ of Strait of Hormuz and collect tolls

What Happened

On Monday, US President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that the US would reinstate a naval blockade on Iran, dubbed the 'Iranian Blockade,' and 'become the guardian' of the Strait of Hormuz, imposing a 20% toll on all cargo transiting the strait. The announcement came after a new round of attacks: Iran claimed to have struck US military sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan, while US forces targeted Iranian port cities. This further unravels a June memorandum of understanding that had paused the US-Israeli war against Iran since April and initiated 60 days of negotiations on issues including Iran's nuclear program and the strait's administration. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned the US and its allies against interfering in the strait's management, threatening a forceful military response and stating that any regional cooperation with the US would be considered an act of war. The International Maritime Organization stated it firmly opposes charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation, citing a lack of legal basis.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for approximately 20% of global oil and gas exports. Trump's unilateral imposition of a blockade and tolls challenges established international law, as underscored by the IMO and previously by his own Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The escalation directly jeopardizes the fragile June MoU that had paused major combat and opened negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, frozen assets, and strait governance. The drastic decline in commercial traffic reported by maritime analysts signals immediate economic disruption, while Iran's threat to treat regional cooperation as an act of war raises the spectre of a broader regional conflict involving Gulf states.

Watch For

Monitor whether the 60-day negotiation window from the June MoU collapses entirely or is extended; Iran's specific military responses to US enforcement actions in the strait; oil price volatility and further declines in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz; diplomatic reactions from GCC states, the E3, Russia, and China; and any formal legal challenges at the International Maritime Organization or other bodies regarding the tolls.