Merve Aydogan
13 July 2026•Update: 13 July 2026
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington was reinstating what he called an “Iranian blockade” and proposed charging a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for US protection of the strategic waterway.
"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”
Trump said the US would provide security for the waterway and seek reimbursement from cargo operators.
"The USA will be, from this point forward, known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,' but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World."
He said implementation would begin immediately.
Shortly after Trump's announcement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on US social media platform X that its forces would resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports beginning at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
CENTCOM noted that US forces would enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while continuing to support traffic flow through regional waters for ships not violating the blockade.
"The resumption of the U.S. blockade against Iran follows the initial implementation from April 13 to June 18," it said, adding that the US forces redirected more than 140 compliant vessels, disabled nine non-compliant ships, and allowed more than 50 commercial vessels carrying humanitarian aid to pass through.
The blockade was lifted after Pakistan mediated a US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June, which was to be followed by a final deal after at least 60 days of negotiations, including on Tehran's nuclear program.
CENTCOM also advised mariners operating in the Gulf of Oman and the approaches to the Strait of Hormuz to monitor navigation notices and contact US naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16.
