U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States intends to take control of security operations in the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20 per cent fee on cargo shipped through the strategically vital waterway.
Trump said the U.S. would become the “guardian” of the strait, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes, amid renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran.
During an interview with Fox & Friends, Trump said the U.S. would maintain control of the waterway and ensure its operation. He later expanded on the proposal in a Truth Social post, saying Washington would reimpose a blockade on Iran while allowing other countries “fair and open use” of the strait.
Trump said the United States would seek reimbursement at a rate of 20 per cent on all cargo shipped through the waterway to cover the costs of providing security.
The announcement follows a renewed escalation in the Gulf, where U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged heavy fire over the weekend.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route, particularly for oil and liquefied natural gas exports from the Persian Gulf. Any disruption to traffic through the waterway can have significant consequences for global energy markets and shipping costs.
