In the latest escalation of the US-Iran conflict, US president Donald Trump said the blockade of Iranian ports will begin again, and that the US will seek to be reimbursed 20% of the value of cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz to pay for its security costs.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said: “The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ 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,The post was characteristically light on details of how the scheme would work, but such an arrangement seems directly at odds with US arguments against Iran in recent months, most notably that US forces are committed to freedom of navigation
In its 12 July advisory note, under the heading “US Forces Commitment to Freedom of Navigation,” JMIC said: “The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway and is not subject to coercion or control by any single nation. Despite Iran’s claims that the Strait is closed, U.S. forces are prepared to maintain freedom of navigation and safeguard lawful commerce in accordance with international law.”
Iran has made preparations to impose a toll on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, proposals that have met strong resistance from the US since the war began on the last day of February.