Trump's Strait of Hormuz plan: US to charge 20% on cargo, block Iranian ships

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that the United States would assume the role of "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and begin charging 20% on all cargo shipped through the strategic waterway to recover the cost of securing one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would "remain OPEN, with or without Iran," while declaring that the US was "reinstating the Iranian blockade"—a measure he said would apply only to Iranian ships and their customers.

"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump wrote. "We are reinstating the Iranian blockade... All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait."

Trump added that the United States would now be known as "The Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and said all cargo moving through the waterway would be subject to a 20% reimbursement charge to cover the costs of providing security in the region.

"The U.S.A. will, from this point forward, be known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT'... 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."

The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following fresh military exchanges in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies are transported.

Trump said the new policy would take effect immediately, though his post did not provide details on how the reimbursement mechanism would be implemented or enforced.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically important shipping lanes, and any changes to access or transit costs are closely watched by global energy markets, shipping companies and governments.