Trump reinstates US blockade on Hormuz, vows to 'guard the Strait'

The United States has reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports and will act as the custodian of the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump announced. This action escalates tensions between the two nations, returning them to a phase of acute conflict similar to that preceding a previous truce.

Trump stated on Truth that the U.S. would now oversee the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that for fairness, a 20% levy would be charged on all goods transported through the vital waterway. This declaration comes despite navigation monitoring sites indicating virtually zero transits since Sunday evening. The blockade, according to reports, may not take effect for up to 24 hours due to legal considerations.

Iran responded by warning against further escalation and threatening to permanently withdraw from its agreement with the U.S. Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, called for retaliation against the U.S. for the killing of a former Supreme Leader. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei indicated that Iran would exit the agreement if the U.S. fails to uphold its commitments.

This rhetorical escalation followed Iran's announcement of new attacks targeting U.S. military installations in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. Iranian military command warned that any country cooperating with the U.S. would be considered an aggressor, and any extension of the conflict into the region would engulf all surrounding nations. Earlier, U.S. forces reported conducting drone strikes against Iranian facilities, including a submarine and ship maintenance site, and hitting the port of a base.