President Donald Trump announced that the US was reimposing a blockade of Iranian ports. He added that the US military will become the “guardians” of the Strait of Hormuz and charge ships a 20% protection fee. 

“The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran,” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday. “We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”

Control over the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central issue in the conflict. Last month, the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding that gave Tehran control over shipping through the waterway but required the lifting of all fees for 60 days. 

However, the US and Oman violated the MOU by attempting to establish a shipping lane through the Strait outside of Iran’s control. Tehran responded to the violation by attacking vessels attempting to use the alternative shipping lane. The US retaliated with strikes on Iran, reigniting the war. 

Trump asserted that the Strait would remain open to non-Iranian traffic, and the US would protect shipping. “The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’” he wrote. “But as such, 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 to this very volatile section of the World. The process and formation will begin immediately.”

US officials have previously stated that Iran cannot be allowed to change a fee in the Strait of Hormuz because it would set a dangerous precedent for shipping lanes worldwide.