Published On 13 Jul 202613 Jul 2026United States President Donald Trump has said the US will restart its naval blockade of Iran and “become the guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz, amid the ongoing escalation with Iran that threatens to derail efforts towards a more lasting peace.Trump made the comments in an interview with Fox News and in a post on Truth Social on Monday, shortly after the US and Iran traded their latest round of attacks. Iran said it again struck US military sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan, while US forces have been primarily targeting port cities along Iran’s coast.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving,” Trump said on Truth Social.“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,” he added.“The process and formation will begin immediately,” he said.Trump had previously threatened to maintain US influence over the strait, through which 20 percent of oil and gas exports to the world normally transits, and to potentially charge tolls if ceasefire negotiations break down.The latest flurry of attacks threatens to scuttle those negotiations. They began last month after both sides signed …
