‘The Strait of Hormuz is open and will remain open, with or without Iran. We are reinstating the blockade of Iran. It is called that because it only restricts the entry and exit of Iranian ships or clients of Iran. All other countries will be able to use the strait freely and on fair terms. From this point forward, the United States will be known as the “Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz.” Furthermore, based on the principle of fairness, the United States will receive compensation of 20% of the total value of all goods transported to cover the costs associated with ensuring the security and stability of this extremely unstable region of the world. The implementation of this system will begin immediately.’
Analysis: This statement is characterized by its grotesque detachment from international maritime law and economic reality. Trump’s claim that the U.S. will unilaterally impose a 20% ‘security fee’ on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz—a vital global oil chokepoint—represents a radical departure from the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which guarantees ‘transit passage’ through international straits. By declaring the U.S. the ‘Guardian’ and demanding a percentage of the total value of goods, the administration is effectively proposing a protection racket on a global scale. Economically, such a levy would be catastrophic, as it would instantly inflate the cost of energy and goods globally, likely triggering severe market volatility and retaliatory measures from other nations. The absurdity lies in the assumption that international shipping companies and sovereign nations would comply with a non-sanctioned, unilateral tax imposed by a single country on international waters. Furthermore, the logistical impossibility of calculating and collecting a 20% tax on the ‘total value’ of diverse cargo in real-time highlights the performative, rather than practical, nature of the policy.
Source: Truth Social, July 13, 2026.
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