Amid renewed escalation between the United States and Iran, President Donald Trump says the US will restart its naval blockade of Iran and \u201cbecome the guardian\u201d of the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Trump added that the US will charge a 20 percent toll on ships transiting through the strait.<\/p>\n
Here is a closer look at what Trump said and what this could mean for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
What did Trump say?<\/p>\n
Trump revealed his plans for the Strait of Hormuz in an interview with Fox News and in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran\u2019s ships or customers from entering or leaving,\u201d Trump posted.<\/p>\n
The US Navy-led \u2060Joint Maritime \u2060Information Center subsequently added that the blockade would begin at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as \u2018THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT\u2019,\u201d Trump added, \u201cbut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe process and formation will begin immediately,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
But Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at the School of Security Studies at King\u2019s College London, told Al Jazeera that Trump\u2019s latest comment \u201clooks much more like an improvised political remark than a developed policy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt reflects President Trump\u2019s instinct to demonstrate that he still has leverage and options, even as Washington\u2019s room for manoeuvre has narrowed considerably,\u201d Krieg said.\u00a0\u201cThe problem is that the proposal misunderstands what the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz has become. This is no longer primarily about generating revenue. It is about authority, prestige and who sets the rules of the Gulf\u2019s most important waterway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Could Trump\u2019s proposal work?<\/p>\n
Krieg said, in practice, he does not see the US-administered 20 percent toll working.<\/p>\n
He explained that Washington \u201chas no legal mechanism to impose charges on international shipping through the strait, nor does it physically control the waterway\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore importantly, introducing an American toll would inadvertently validate Iran\u2019s own argument that passage through Hormuz is something that can legitimately be monetised. Washington has spent weeks insisting that freedom of navigation is a principle under international law,\u201d Krieg said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it suddenly starts talking about charging for access itself, it weakens its own legal and political position while strengthening Tehran\u2019s narrative that control over Hormuz comes with the right to levy fees.\u201d<\/p>\n
What would this mean for ships trying to travel through the strait?<\/p>\n
Krieg explained that commercial shipping companies will comply with whoever can actually affect their ability to sail safely.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are not choosing between an American toll and an Iranian demand on commercial grounds. They are making risk calculations based on insurance, security and operational continuity,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIf Iran continues to exercise coercive control over the strait, shipping companies will adapt to that reality regardless of what Washington announces from the White House.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before the war, most commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz followed established shipping lanes that run roughly through the middle of the strait.<\/p>\n
Now, the vessels face a stark choice: If they move near the Omani side of the strait, they risk getting attacked by Iran, and if they sail closer to Iranian waters in coordination with Iran, they risk being accused of violating Trump\u2019s blockade and could face US attacks.<\/p>\n
Krieg said Trump\u2019s proposal would create greater uncertainty for vessels traversing through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
\u201cShipping companies already face conflicting guidance from insurers, naval authorities and regional governments,\u201d he said. \u201cAdding a politically driven American toll proposal without any internationally recognised enforcement mechanism would create another layer of legal and commercial ambiguity. Markets dislike uncertainty far more than they dislike predictable costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
What does international law say about tolls in waterways?<\/p>\n