Amid renewed escalation between the United States and Iran, President Donald Trump announced the US will restart its naval blockade of Iran and become the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz, charging a 20 percent toll on ships transiting the strategic waterway.
Trump revealed his plans in a Fox News interview and a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday. “We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving,” Trump wrote. The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center later said the blockade would begin at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.
“The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT’,” Trump added, “but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped.” However, Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, called the proposal “an improvised political remark” that misunderstands the strategic dispute. He argued the US has no legal mechanism to impose such charges and that it would weaken Washington’s position while strengthening Tehran’s narrative.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has consistently opposed any fees for passage through straits. Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated in April that “countries do not have the right to introduce tolls” on international straits. The IMO reiterated its stance on Monday, saying there is “no legal basis” for mandatory tolls.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described Trump’s plan as “piracy.” “President Trump tweeted that he will unblock the Strait of Hormuz. But for every ship, the oil owner must pay him 20 per cent. This used to be considered piracy,” Lula said.
The renewed blockade follows a week of hostilities between the US and Iran that have eroded peace negotiations. The US launched attacks on Iran last week, accusing it of violating agreements on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has since retaliated with strikes on US military assets in Gulf countries and Jordan. Krieg warned that such improvisation encourages the IRGC to hold its position rather than compromise, making a diplomatic resolution harder to achieve.
Source: www.aljazeera.com