Trump Announces Naval Blockade on Iran, Proposes 20% Strait of Hormuz Transit Charge

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports and vessels, while proposing a 20% charge on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said the strategically vital waterway would remain open to international commercial shipping "with or without Iran," describing the United States as the guarantor of freedom of navigation in the strait.

He said the proposed 20% transit charge would help cover the cost of U.S. efforts to protect commercial ships and cargo moving through the waterway. However, the administration has not provided details on how the fee would be collected or enforced.

The announcement comes after renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran, and Tehran's declaration that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed to unauthorized vessels.

According to the U.S., the naval blockade is aimed at Iranian shipping and vessels engaged in trade with Iran, while allowing other international commercial traffic to continue using the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important maritime routes for oil and natural gas exports. Any disruption to shipping through the waterway has the potential to drive up global energy prices and increase inflationary pressures worldwide.

The legal authority and practical framework for imposing a 20% charge on international cargo remain unclear, with no detailed implementation plan yet made public.