US President Donald Trump said the US would reimpose a naval blockade of Iranian ports and impose a 20% tariff on all cargo transported through the Strait of Hormuz as attacks between the two countries intensified.
He said this would prevent “Iranian vessels or customers” from entering or exiting the main oil shipping route, but “all other countries will use the strait fairly and openly.” The lockdown will take effect from 16:00 Eastern Time (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
Iran’s foreign minister responded, quoting President Trump, that Tehran would remain the “protector” of the strait.
The U.S. military later said it had “launched airstrikes against Iran for the third consecutive night.”
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said the airstrikes began at 16:45 ET (20:45 GMT) on Monday following “directions from the Commander-in-Chief.”
“This attack will continue to cost Iran dearly and will reduce its ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz,” Centcom said.
Iranian forces targeted US military assets 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 a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump claimed the strait “will remain open with or without Iran.”
“From this point on, the United States will be known as the ‘Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz,’” he wrote. “As a matter of fairness, we will be reimbursed for all costs and 20 percent of all cargo shipped to provide safety and security to this highly unstable part of the world.”
“The process and formation will begin immediately,” the US president added.
His comments came shortly after he told Fox News that the United States would “probably operate” the Strait of Hormuz, and claimed Iran had “broken” an agreement it signed with the United States.
“We are occupying the strait,” he said.
Late Monday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said it would “reimpose a blockade of maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports” on July 14.
“The U.S. military continues to support traffic flow through local waters for all vessels that do not violate the blockade,” a Centcom statement said.
Last Friday, President Trump informed Congress in a letter published by the BBC that the United States had resumed military action in Iran on July 7.
Federal law requires congressional approval to continue military action beyond 60 days. The White House may extend the deadline by another 30 days for national security reasons.
Reply to Trump Following the announcement of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on
“Iran has always been and will always be the guardian of the Strait,” he said.
“Of course 20% is too much. We will do it fairly,” Araghchi added.
