Following the latest military strikes, the US has announced a renewed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump also plans to impose a transit fee – a move that runs counter to the IMO’s policy.
The ceasefire is over: in recent days, the US has carried out several attacks on Iran following the targeting of merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with strikes against US allies in the region and once again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.
US President Donald Trump is now planning further measures, as he announced on his Truth Social platform. According to his statement, the “Iranian blockade” is to be reinstated, which means that only ships bound for ports in Iran or with links to Iran will be prevented from passing through. The strait is to remain open to all other countries.
‘The Guardian of the Hormuz Strait’
Added to this is a planned freight charge: ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz are to pay a 20% cargo fee to the US. Trump justifies the move by stating that this will cover the costs of deploying naval vessels and thus ensuring security in the region. “The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote. He described the requirement for ships to pay a fee to America as “fair”, adding that implementation of this plan would begin immediately.
Trump’s move comes following a renewed escalation in the Persian Gulf. The regional military command Centcom announced successful attacks over several days, for the first time also involving unmanned maritime drones. Iran had only recently attacked another merchant ship in the region; the name of the freighter has since been revealed: The “GFS Galaxy”, sailing under the Cypriot flag, was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman and caught fire. The crew were rescued, although according to Centcom, one crew member is still missing.
The proposed toll, from which the US would benefit, contradicts the position of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The organisation stated that ships are entitled to unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The IMO categorically ruled out a toll or any other charges. Trump’s statement also contradicts a statement made by his own Secretary of State: Marco Rubio had said as recently as June that no country in the world had the right to charge for the use of international waters – which includes the Strait of Hormuz.
Whether and how Trump can enforce the charge remains unclear at present. There is no presidential order or further details on the matter. Meanwhile, Iran has claimed the role of “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz for itself: according to a statement by Foreign Minister Aragchi, the leadership in Tehran also plans to levy fees for its use. However, they also say they will be “fair”, stating that Trump’s suggestion of 20% would be too much. Prior to this renewed escalation, representatives from Iran and Oman had been discussing a toll model for the Strait of Hormuz.
