Trump Declares U.S. the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait,” Vows 20% Cargo Fee
Trump reinstates an “Iranian Blockade” and demands reimbursement on all cargo shipped through the vital waterway to fund U.S. security operations.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump declared that the United States will police the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, and charge a 20% fee on all cargo shipped through it to cover the cost.
The move designates the country as “The Guardian of the Hormuz Strait” while reinstating what Trump called an “Iranian Blockade.” He said the measure targets only Iran’s ships and customers while leaving the passage open to all other nations. Trump said the process and formation would begin immediately.
Here is the full post on Truth Social: “The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Trump” on July 13, 2026 at 10:16 AM ET.
This is the first message released by Trump today. On average, Trump produces about 3 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The stakes reach far beyond the Persian Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of global oil consumption, and any new toll or blockade could ripple through fuel prices worldwide. Iran loses the most under the plan, cut off from the maritime route that funds much of its economy. Shipping firms and oil importers from Asia to Europe would bear the cost of a 20% cargo levy, while the United States positions itself as both protector and toll collector.
The strait has been a flashpoint for decades. During the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, the so-called Tanker War saw both sides attack commercial vessels, prompting the U.S. Navy to escort reflagged Kuwaiti tankers through the passage. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the waterway during periods of heightened tension with Washington.
For the average U.S. reader, the announcement matters at the gas pump. A disruption to Hormuz traffic or a new fee on cargo could raise crude prices, feeding into the cost of gasoline, heating oil, and goods that depend on shipping. Energy analysts have long warned that turmoil in the strait translates quickly into higher prices at American filling stations.
Has this happened before? A unilateral U.S. declaration to police the strait and charge a per-cargo fee has not happened before. The Navy has guarded shipping lanes there in past crises, but no administration has formally branded the nation a “guardian” and sought reimbursement from global shippers at a fixed percentage.
Who decides next remains unclear. Iran, Gulf states, and major oil importers would need to respond, and any formal enforcement would likely require coordination with the Pentagon and allied navies. A date for the plan’s formal launch has not been announced beyond Trump’s pledge that the process begins immediately.
The Strait of Hormuz has long drawn great powers into conflict. In 1988, U.S. and Iranian forces clashed in Operation Praying Mantis, the largest surface naval engagement fought by the American fleet since World War II. In a single day of fighting on April 18 of that year, U.S. forces sank or crippled roughly half of Iran’s operational navy, destroying two oil platforms and multiple vessels. The confrontation reshaped the balance of power in the Gulf and hastened the end of the Tanker War, leaving Washington the dominant naval presence in the region for years to come.
The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 82 of his 519 posts over the last 30 days focused on foreign policy.
Source: Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Note: Chart generated on July 13, 2026 at 10:21 AM ET
Source: Zenger analysis
Note: Table generated by https://zenger.news on July 13, 2026 at 10:21 AM ET