Washington: The United States will “protect” the Strait of Hormuz and tax ships 20 percent of the value of their cargoes for safe passage, President Donald Trump announced, as fresh fighting in the region threatens to spiral out of control.
Trump also said the United States would restore its naval sanctions against ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, the removal of which was a key part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in June. that collapses quickly.
“The Strait of Hormuz is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday morning (Washington time). “We are bringing back THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE (sic), so named because it simply prevents Iranian ships or customers from entering or leaving.
“All other countries will have fair and open use of the Straits. The United States will, from this point forward, be known as the ‘GUARDIAN OF THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ’, but therefore, and as a matter of JUSTICE, will be compensated, at the rate of 20% of all cargo transported, at any and all costs necessary to the work of the safety and security of the World.”
Tolling ships that use the sea channel would mark a departure from the previous US insistence that passage through the vital waterway must be free and open to all. But Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of imposing tariffs, including days after the MoU with Iran was signed.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out any attempt to clear the sea as recently as June 24, after the MoU announced that Iran and Oman would be responsible for its long-term management.
“The whole world is going to be against any system that charges money to use an international waterway. It’s that simple,” Rubio said at the time.
“When we (say) open the way, we mean open the way for free … I know of no country on the planet that supports a tax or a fee for crisis use. That’s not going to happen, the president has been very clear.”
Trump’s announcement had an immediate but moderate impact on oil prices, with Brent crude nearing $US80 ($115) a barrel in late morning trade.
The conflict in the region has escalated more than a week ago after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump declared the ceasefire “over” and responded with four waves of strikes targeting Iran’s radar and surveillance, air defenses, drone launch sites and other military infrastructure.
In turn, Iran tried to attack US military assets in the Gulf using missiles and drones. The IRGC Navy also hit an additional Cypriot-flagged vessel with an anti-ship missile, declaring the channel “closed”.
The US Central Command said its latest wave of strikes was aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to attack international shipping. It published a video of a drone hitting a submarine and a naval maintenance facility in Bandar Abbas, saying it was the first time US forces had deployed drones in combat operations.
Traffic in the sea area increased significantly since the MoU was signed in mid-Juneand oil prices fell. But between July 10 and 12, crossings were down 52 percent compared to the previous week, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler.
Shipping activity on Iranian-controlled and “dark” routes through the sea increased, the company said, while activity in international waters and on the Oman side – where Iran attacked ships – “almost disappeared”.
He appeared on Fox News earlier MondayTrump expressed frustration with Iran and signaled his willingness to take control of the crisis and seek financial compensation.
“We protected the strait for 50 years – more – and we didn’t get paid for it,” Trump claimed. It was not immediately clear what he was talking about.
“They got all the money and America was fair, no, they couldn’t – it’s amazing. We protected it for free, and now we will protect it, and we will be paid for protecting it – a lot of money.”
Iran’s control of the sea, courtesy of drone and missile attacks by the IRGC, has been a problematic legacy of the US-Israel war against Iran, with significant economic implications for Gulf energy-dependent nations, including Australia.
Financial Times it was reported on Monday that United Arab Emirates port operator DP World was in talks to build a new port and container terminal on the country’s east coast, meaning ships would not need to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The cargo would be trucked to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and elsewhere.
More to come
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Michael Koziol is the North American correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, deputy editor of the Sun-Herald and federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect through X or email address.
