An Iranian flag flutters in the wind as ships anchor on May 16, 2026, in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran. | Majid Saeedi/Getty 
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Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump followed days of heavy-handed US attacks on Iran by announcing that the US is in charge of the Strait of Hormuz – and demanding a 20 percent payment of the value of all cargo transported through it.
What happened to the ceasefire? Last week, the a bad ceasefire deal The US-Iran conflict broke out in mid-June, when Iran attacked several oil tankers that were passing through the strait. United States he replied by striking more than 300 targets in Iran and reimposing sanctions. Iran resume the attack on American bases in the Gulf as well.
So what did Trump say now? On Monday morning, Trump said he was reimposing the US naval blockade against Iran and announced the United States to be “GUARDIAN OF THE GATE OF HORMUZ.”
Trump further announced that the United States “will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% of all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to operate.”
What is the context? Since Trump launched the war in February, Iran’s most effective response has been attacks on ships that effectively “closed” the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil corridor – and risked a spike in oil prices.
Trump has made his deep desire to reopen the channel clear. But Iran has been unwilling to give up this capability so easily: It has demanded the right to charge fees for passing — and shoot at ships that don’t play ball.
So Trump is basically saying, You do not take me captive; I will take you hostage (since Iran also needs to transport oil by sea). And in typical Trumpian fashion, he wants to take a percentage for the United States.
Is war fully back on? Things are not looking good at the moment, but both sides have insisted that negotiations are still ongoing. But while Trump has no desire to return to full conflict, he may feel encouraged by the fact that the world it was well received by the closure of the channel earlier this year.
And so, it’s time to leave…
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