Trump to restore Iran blockade, charge fees for Strait of Hormuz shipping
Trump says Iranian ships and those trading with Iran will be barred, while other commercial traffic will pay a 20% transit fee
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States would begin charging commercial vessels for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as Washington reinstates its blockade of Iran following a renewed escalation in the conflict.
Trump said Iranian vessels and ships trading with Iran would be barred from using the strategic waterway, while other countries would retain access under a system that would impose a 20 per cent fee on eligible cargoes.
“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving,” Trump said online. “All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”
The US president said the charge would help pay for “any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World”.
The proposal prompted questions about whether Washington could legally impose fees on vessels using one of the world’s most important international waterways.
The International Maritime Organization said it was seeking further details on Trump’s announcement and reiterated its long-standing opposition to mandatory charges for passage through international straits.
“IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation,” a spokesperson for the UN shipping agency said.