Trump Says US Will Become ‘Guardian of the Hormuz Strait’, Plans 20% Cargo Security Levy

Washington, July 2026 : US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that the United States would assume a leading security role in the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that Washington would become the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait” while proposing a 20 per cent reimbursement on all cargo passing through the strategic maritime route to cover the cost of protecting global shipping.

The announcement, made through Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region following recent military confrontations involving Iran. Trump asserted that the crucial waterway would remain open for international trade regardless of Iran’s actions and unveiled what he described as the reinstatement of an “Iranian blockade.”

According to the President, the new arrangement would allow all nations, except Iran and its customers, to freely use the Strait while the United States ensures the safety and security of maritime traffic.

“The U.S.A. will, from this point forward, be known as ‘The Guardian of the Hormuz Strait,’” Trump wrote. “As a matter of fairness, we will be reimbursed at the rate of 20 per cent on all cargo shipped for the costs necessary to provide security in this highly volatile region.”

He further declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open “with or without Iran,” adding that the proposed blockade was aimed solely at restricting Iranian shipping and vessels linked to Tehran while allowing uninterrupted passage for other countries.

Trump also stated that the process of implementing the new security framework would begin immediately, although his administration did not specify how the proposed reimbursement mechanism would be enforced or the legal basis under which such charges would be collected.

Earlier in the day, during an interview with Fox News, Trump had hinted at the announcement, saying that the United States intended to maintain long-term control over the security of the Strait.

“We’re going to keep the Strait, and we’ll probably run it,” Trump said. “We’ll become the guardian of the Strait, and we should be reimbursed for doing that.”

He argued that the United States had spent decades safeguarding one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes without receiving any financial compensation from the countries that benefit from it.

“For more than 50 years we’ve protected this waterway, and we never got paid,” Trump remarked. “Now we’re going to continue protecting it, but we’re going to be reimbursed. Many of the countries using the Strait are wealthy, and they should contribute to the cost instead of expecting America to shoulder the burden alone.”

The US President also accused Iran of reneging on a previously negotiated agreement with Washington. He claimed that after lengthy negotiations, Tehran had initially accepted the terms before seeking last-minute changes.

“We had a deal. It was done,” Trump said. “Then they broke it. They always break these agreements. We’ve had multiple deals with them over the years, and every time they back away.”

Trump maintained that the United States would continue taking a tough stance against Tehran, warning that any hostile actions would be met with force.

He also claimed that recent US military operations had significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities.

“They have no navy, no air force, and their anti-aircraft systems are gone,” Trump said, adding that recent American strikes had severely damaged Iran’s military infrastructure and prevented the country from advancing its nuclear ambitions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Nearly a fifth of global oil supplies and substantial volumes of liquefied natural gas transit through the narrow waterway, making its security vital for international energy markets and global commerce.

Trump’s latest proposal, however, leaves several questions unanswered, including how the proposed 20 per cent cargo reimbursement would be implemented, whether it would apply universally to all commercial shipments, and how other nations would respond to such a move. The White House had not released additional operational details at the time of the announcement.

Team Maverick