Trump is going to reinstate the naval blockade on Iranian ports and pay off the Strait of Hormuz.

In a Trump’s Truth social media post on Monday, he insisted that tensions “remain open with or without Iran.”

“The USA will from this point be known as the “Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz”, but as such and in fairness, it will be reimbursed by 20% for all cargo sent, for any costs necessary to carry out the work of providing security and safety to this very volatile part of the world,” he wrote.

The American president added that “the process and formation will begin immediately.”

His comments came after he told Fox News that the United States would “probably command the Strait of Hormuz” because Iran had “broken” the accord with the United States.

“We are managing the tension,” he said.

Later on Monday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the forces will continue to block maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports on July 14.

“The U.S. military continues to support traffic through territorial waters for all vessels that do not violate the embargo,” a Centcom statement said.

Responding to Trump’s announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X: “POTUS is absolutely right. Anyone who provides safe and secure passage of merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be compensated for this service.”

He continued: “Iran has always been a coastguard and always will be.”

“20% is really a lot. We will be fair,” Aragchi added.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the International Maritime Organization – the United Nations body that oversees international shipping – said: “The IMO strongly opposes the payment of tolls to pass through lanes used for international shipping,” Reuters news agency reported.

The spokesman added: “There is no legal basis for introducing mandatory fees for the sole purpose of compulsory transit.”

Before Trump’s announcement, Iran’s top military headquarters said the United States would not allow “administrative interference” in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement shared by Iranian media, Khatam al-Anbiya spokesman Ibrahim Zolfaghari said “repeated mischief and mischief from the US in the coast” have “put the security of the region, international trade, and oil tankers and commercial ships in grave danger.”

Any cooperation with the US would be considered a “war” against Iran’s sovereignty, he warned, if the conflict escalated, “the flame of war will burn all the countries of the region”.