U.S. President Donald Trump restored a naval blockade targeting Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, he said a toll equal to 20% of cargo value would be collected from all third-country merchant ships passing through the strait. Experts said controversy over violations of international law is likely to grow as the United States, which had said the toll Iran demanded was illegal, now says it will collect 20% as a toll. With the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's crude supply passed before the war, again brought under full control, international oil prices jumped more than 9% on the day.
On the 13th (local time), U.S. Central Command said it would begin a naval blockade against ships traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time on the 14th (5 a.m. Korea time on the 15th). Earlier on the 13th, President Trump said on social media, "The United States will from now on be known as the 'guardian of the Strait of Hormuz,'" adding, "We will apply a 20% rate to all cargo being transported to recover every expense necessary to provide safety and security to this unstable region."
The Trump administration's move is seen as a hard-line response after the memorandum of understanding for a cease-fire signed in June effectively collapsed and Iran resumed armed provocations while asserting control over the strait. On the 14th, the U.S. military also used three Corsair unmanned surface vessels to strike the Iranian Bandar Abbas naval base port. It is the first time the U.S. military has deployed unmanned sea drones in combat operations. In a local radio interview, President Trump warned, "We are going to hit them very hard tonight, and we are going to hit them hard tomorrow," raising the level of military pressure.
Iran, meanwhile, pushed back strongly, calling it a violation of sovereignty. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said, "We will never allow the United States to interfere in managing the Strait of Hormuz." Mohammad Mokhber, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader, also wrote on social media, "We defend so that we will not pay tribute to the enemy for ship passage in the future," adding, "Backing down on this grave matter is unthinkable for Iran's friends." Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a Middle East expert, said, "I am confident Iran will not give up the strait so easily."
The unprecedented plan to impose a 20% toll is also fueling controversy over violations of international law. If tolls are set based on cargo value, it could have the massive effect of imposing a large-scale tax on global energy trade. Kaja Kallas, a top European Union (EU) official, criticized the U.S. plan to collect tolls on the day, saying, "Freedom of navigation must be respected." The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, also immediately issued an official statement, saying, "We firmly oppose imposing fees for passage through straits used for international navigation," and noting, "There is no legal basis to introduce a mandatory toll solely for passing through a strait."