United States President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iran and imposed charges on vessels for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States would assume the role of “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT.”
He added that, in the interest of what he described as fairness, the US would seek reimbursement equivalent to 20% of the value of all cargo transported through the strait to cover the costs of maintaining safety and security in the volatile maritime corridor. Trump said the process of implementing the plan would begin immediately.
Meanwhile, Iran accused the United States of undermining regional energy security through its actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Tehran continued to exercise full authority over the strategic waterway and warned that US interference had significantly heightened risks to global energy supplies.
Zolfaghari also cautioned that cooperation between some regional countries and Washington had increased the risk of the conflict spreading across the region.
