Former President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports via social media on June 13, 2026 [1].
The move targets one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, potentially disrupting global trade and escalating military tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Trump said the U.S. will demand that each country reimburse 20% [1] of the value of cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. He said this payment is compensation for the U.S. protection of safe navigation in the region.
According to the announcement, the blockade was scheduled to resume at 4 p.m. ET on June 14, 2026 [2]. The decision comes in retaliation for continued Iranian attacks on merchant vessels in the waterway.
Trump said he intends to be rewarded for protecting the Strait of Hormuz. "It is a lot of money, but I just want compensation from each country because we are putting soldiers at risk," Trump said [2].
Iranian military authorities said they would never allow the U.S. to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz [2].
The U.S. naval presence in the region is intended to ensure the flow of commerce, but the demand for a percentage of cargo value introduces a new financial requirement for international shipping companies, and nations utilizing the route.
“"I just want compensation from each country because we are putting soldiers at risk,"”
The demand for a 20% reimbursement of cargo value represents a shift from traditional security guarantees to a 'pay-for-protection' model. By linking naval access to direct financial compensation, the U.S. is leveraging its military dominance in the Strait of Hormuz to offset the costs of regional stability, while simultaneously intensifying economic pressure on Iran.
