Donald Trump announced that the United States will assume control of the Strait of Hormuz and collect a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the waterway, positioning America as the "guardian" of the critical chokepoint while targeting Iranian shipping specifically. Trump stated the strait will remain open to all nations except Iran, describing the move as restoring an "Iranian blockade" that would selectively restrict only Tehran-linked vessels while allowing free passage for other countries.
The administration plans to implement the compensation system immediately, framing the fee structure as necessary reimbursement for U.S. military expenditures securing what Trump characterized as an "extremely unstable region." Through this mechanism, the United States would extract direct economic value from one of global commerce's most vital maritime passages, where approximately 21% of the world's petroleum transits daily.
The announcement carries substantial implications for oil markets, shipping costs, and geopolitical stability in the Middle East. A unilateral U.S. toll on Strait of Hormuz traffic would represent an unprecedented assertion of control over international waters and faces potential resistance from major trading partners and international maritime law frameworks. Oil price volatility typically accompanies heightened tensions in the region; market participants will likely monitor whether this policy triggers immediate sanctions escalation or Iranian countermeasures affecting energy supplies.