President Donald Trump announced on July 13, 2026 [2], that the United States will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge cargo fees.
The move targets one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Control over the strait allows the U.S. to influence global energy markets and apply direct economic pressure on Iran.
Trump said the U.S. will operate the waterway and impose a 20% fee [1] on all cargo passing through. He said the objective is to secure the waterway, pressure the Iranian government, and generate revenue for the United States [1, 5].
"We will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20% fee on all cargo passing through," Trump said [1].
The announcement includes a pledge to ensure the waterway remains navigable. Trump said the U.S. will keep the strait open, "with or without Iran" [2].
However, the specific nature of the U.S. presence has been described differently across reports. While some sources emphasize keeping the waterway open, other reports state that the United States is reinstating a blockade on Iranian shipping and will charge ships for safe passage [4].
The Strait of Hormuz is the strategic waterway located between Oman and Iran [5]. It serves as the primary exit for oil and gas exports from the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world.
"The United States is reinstating a blockade on Iranian shipping and will charge ships for safe passage," Trump said [4].
“"We will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20% fee on all cargo passing through."”
By asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz and implementing a cargo fee, the U.S. is transitioning from a security guarantor to an active operator of a global transit hub. This strategy leverages the geography of the Persian Gulf to create a direct financial lever against Iran while potentially increasing the cost of energy imports for global markets. The tension between the stated goal of keeping the strait open and the reported reinstatement of a blockade suggests a high-risk escalation in U.S.-Iran relations.
