US President Donald Trump declared the US the "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and proposed a 20% reimbursement on all cargo passing through the strategic waterway for security. He also announced the reinstatement of an "Iranian blockade," allowing all countries except Iran and its customers to use the Strait. However, no details were provided on how the proposed fee would be implemented.

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday declared that the United States would become the "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and said countries using the strategic waterway would have to reimburse Washington "at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped" for providing security in one of the world's most volatile maritime corridors.

He said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open "with or without Iran" as the United States reinstated what he called the "Iranian blockade", allowing all countries except Iran and its customers to use the waterway freely.

Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "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."

"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump said. "We are reinstating the IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait."