Trump Orders Strikes on Iran, Plans Blockade and Fee on Strait of Hormuz Cargo

The United States escalated its confrontation with Iran, launching a third consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian infrastructure. President Donald Trump announced plans to reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports and impose a significant 20 percent fee on all cargo transiting the vital Strait of Hormuz. This move dramatically increases tensions in a critical global shipping lane.

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We're going to hit them very hard tonight, and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow.

The heightened military actions follow Iran's reported attacks on two ships in the strategic waterway, which resulted in the death of one crew member, according to the United Arab Emirates. The US military stated its five-hour operation struck targets, including coastal areas of Bushehr and Bandar Abbas, aiming to "degrade Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping." In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Bahrain.

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We're going to hit them very hard tonight, and we're going to hit them hard tomorrow.

Trump asserted that the United States was "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz, a declaration met with derision from Iranian officials who accused Washington of "piracy." The US Central Command confirmed that Iranian ports along the waterway would face a blockade starting Tuesday evening. These developments have fueled fears of renewed conflict, causing oil prices to surge significantly.

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Tell the Iranians to be ready. Let them know we're coming (and) there's not a damn thing they can do about it.

Further escalating the situation, the US president also threatened to target a deeply buried nuclear site near Natanz, where Western intelligence suspects Iran is developing an undeclared enrichment facility. Trump's administration formally notified Congress of the resumption of military conflict against Iran, granting the Pentagon additional operational time in the region without immediate congressional approval. The US aims to project dominance over the strait, while allowing "fair and open use" for other nations.

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We're going to be known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT' and levy a 20 percent fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway.