TEHRAN, July 13 – President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will reinstate what he described as an Iranian blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, introducing a policy that would prevent Iranian vessels and certain customers from using the strategic waterway while requiring eligible commercial ships to pay a 20% toll for protected passage.
The announcement comes amid another sharp escalation in military exchanges between Washington and Tehran, adding fresh uncertainty to diplomatic efforts that were intended to bring an end to months of conflict. The latest violence has centered on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime trade corridors, where repeated attacks on commercial shipping have heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation and renewed disruption to global energy supplies.
Trump Unveils Maritime Toll and Expands Pressure on Iran
In a statement published on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that the United States would once again enforce what he called “the Iranian blockade,” arguing that the measure is designed specifically to isolate Iran’s maritime activities rather than restrict international commerce.
According to Trump, Iranian vessels, along with ships identified as serving Iranian customers, will no longer be permitted to pass through the strategic waterway under the new policy. He maintained that all other nations would continue to enjoy unrestricted navigation while benefiting from American security operations in the region.
Trump also announced that the United States would impose a 20% toll on qualifying cargo transported through the strait. He said the fees would help finance the extensive naval and military operations required to protect one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
“The toll will cover any and all costs necessary to provide safety and security in this extremely volatile section of the world,” Trump wrote, presenting the move as both a security measure and a financial mechanism to sustain military protection for international shipping.
The announcement follows months of growing instability after Iran asserted control over shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of war earlier this year. Tehran has argued that it possesses the authority to regulate maritime movement and collect transit fees under the framework of an interim peace arrangement reached last month. Washington and several allied governments reject that interpretation, maintaining that international maritime law guarantees freedom of navigation through the strategic passage.
The latest crisis was triggered after Iran allegedly attacked a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, setting off another cycle of military retaliation between the two rivals.
Military Escalation Deepens While Diplomatic Efforts Stall
As tensions mounted, the U.S. military announced that its forces carried out another wave of strikes across Iran on Monday, targeting dozens of military facilities. Officials said the attacks focused on air defense systems, radar installations, missile launch capabilities, drone infrastructure and fast attack boats believed to support Iranian operations in the Gulf.
American military officials also reiterated that the United States does not recognize Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that international shipping lanes remain open under international law.
The renewed military exchanges come despite ongoing negotiations intended to reach a permanent settlement to the conflict and address Iran’s controversial nuclear program. The two sides are approaching the midpoint of a previously agreed 60-day negotiating period, yet recent events have raised serious doubts about the future of those talks.
Iranian leaders responded with defiant statements following the latest American strikes.
Mohammed Mokhber, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, wrote on the social media platform X that Iran would continue defending its position in the strait, arguing that surrendering control would force Iranian shipping to pay what he described as tribute to hostile powers.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also issued a strongly worded statement, describing the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian territory and condemning continued American military involvement in the region. The Revolutionary Guard insisted that it would resist what it called illegal foreign interference.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused Washington of undermining the interim peace agreement, telling reporters during a press briefing that multiple provisions of the memorandum of understanding had already been violated. He also announced that Tehran would not permit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit nuclear facilities previously struck by the United States, where significant quantities of highly enriched uranium are believed to remain buried beneath damaged infrastructure.
Although Trump suggested last week that the interim agreement had effectively collapsed, diplomatic mediation has not completely stopped.
Officials from Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt continue efforts to reduce tensions between both sides. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with Iran’s senior diplomat and called for immediate de-escalation to prevent further instability across the Middle East. A regional official familiar with the negotiations also indicated that behind-the-scenes contacts aimed at preserving the ceasefire framework remained active despite the latest military escalation.
Gulf Nations Face New Missile Threats as Oil Markets React
The widening conflict once again spread across the Gulf region on Monday as several U.S.-aligned countries reported incoming missile attacks.
Authorities in Bahrain activated air raid sirens on three separate occasions as missiles approached the kingdom, which hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Kuwait also confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted hostile projectiles, although officials did not immediately report casualties or significant damage.
Jordan’s military announced that its air defense units successfully intercepted four Iranian missiles. Military officials stated that the incident caused neither casualties nor property damage, underscoring the effectiveness of the kingdom’s defensive response. Jordan remains an important regional partner for the United States and hosts American military personnel and aircraft.
Inside Iran, state news agency IRNA reported that attacks struck several provinces, including Hormozgan, Khuzestan and Markazi, killing at least two people. Iranian media also reported additional strikes in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan along the Gulf of Oman.
Separately, a drone strike targeted a military base belonging to an Iranian Kurdish opposition group operating in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Rebaz Sharifi, a local commander, confirmed the attack but said there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. No organization claimed responsibility for the operation.
The fighting has increasingly focused on competing claims over the Strait of Hormuz itself.
Earlier on Sunday, U.S. forces launched one of their largest operations of the conflict, striking approximately 140 targets that included missile launch sites, drone facilities, ammunition depots and communications infrastructure. Iran responded by targeting several countries hosting American military forces, extending attacks beyond Bahrain and Kuwait to include Qatar, Jordan and Oman.
Oman, which shares the Strait of Hormuz with Iran and has frequently served as a mediator between Tehran and Western governments, summoned an Iranian diplomat to protest the missile attack directed toward its territory.
Meanwhile, commercial shipping patterns continue to shift. The United States has increasingly supported vessels traveling along a southern maritime corridor near Oman’s coastline to reduce exposure to Iranian-controlled waters. Iran has repeatedly targeted ships using that alternative route, further complicating navigation for international shipping companies.
MarineTraffic.com reported that commercial traffic through the Oman route dropped to minimal levels over the weekend as shipping operators continued to prioritize security concerns over shorter transit times.
Global financial markets responded swiftly to the renewed instability. Oil prices climbed nearly 5% during early trading before easing later in the day. U.S. benchmark crude, which had surged close to $120 per barrel during the most intense phase of the conflict earlier this year, settled around $72.92, while broader financial markets delivered mixed performances as investors weighed the risks of further escalation.
With military operations expanding, diplomatic negotiations struggling and maritime security becoming increasingly uncertain, the future of one of the world’s most strategically important waterways remains central to both regional stability and the global economy.