The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global transit point for energy supplies. Donald Trump said the US would impose a 20% charge as part of a new blockade on the waterway, and the UAE accused Iran of a “brazen” attack on two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, killing one and wounding eight.
Geopolitical Context of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a key oil shipping route. As tensions over the international waterway ramped up, the United Arab Emirates said on Monday night that Iranian cruise missiles targeted two national tankers, killing an Indian crew member and wounding eight others, four of which were serious. Six of those injured were Indian, while two were Ukrainian, the UAE Ministry of Defence said in a statement on X.
The US president said they were hitting Iran “very hard” as strikes were launched for the third consecutive night amid escalating attacks between the two countries. Trump said the US was reinstating a naval blockade of Iranian ports and would impose a 20% charge on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. He stated this would stop “Iran’s ships or customers” from entering or leaving the route, but “all other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait”.
International Maritime Security Frameworks
The UAE Ministry of Defense condemned the attack on the tankers, stating it “constitutes a serious violation and a clear breach of international law, threatening the security and stability of the region.”
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that the U.S.A. “will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World.”
Current Status of Regional Tensions
The blockade is set to be in effect from 16:00 Eastern Time (20:00 GMT) on Tuesday. US Central Command (Centcom) said strikes were launched at 16:45 Eastern Time (20:45 GMT) on Monday at “the Commander in Chief’s direction” and that forces “will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” on 14 July.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X, stating “POTUS is absolutely right” regarding compensation for providing secure passage, but added that “20% is of course too much.” Araghchi further claimed that “Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER.” Iran’s army said it had targeted US military assets in Kuwait in response.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who monitors security in the Strait of Hormuz?
The US president claimed the US is “controlling the Strait” and will be “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” while Iran’s foreign minister asserted that Iran has always been and will remain the “GUARDIAN” of the Strait. - Can a country legally block the Strait of Hormuz?
The UAE Ministry of Defence stated that the attack by Iranian cruise missiles on tankers constituted a “serious violation and a clear breach of international law.” - How do shipping companies prepare for regional volatility?
Centcom stated that the US military “continues to support traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade.”
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