Trump reinstates Iran port blockade and vows 20% charge on cargo passing through Hormuz

President Donald Trump has announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade of Iranian ports and a 20% charge on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, following recent military strikes between the US and Iran. Trump declared on Truth Social that the US would be known as "THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT" and would be reimbursed at a 20% rate for providing safety and security. The blockade is set to take effect from 16:00 Eastern Time on Tuesday, with US Central Command stating it will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by agreeing that whoever provides safe passage should be compensated, but insisted Iran has always been and will remain the "GUARDIAN" of the strait, though he called the 20% charge too much. The International Maritime Organization stated there is no legal basis for mandatory tolls through straits used for international navigation. This escalation follows US strikes on Iranian military targets and Iranian strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and radars in Oman.