The US President Donald Trump states that the US intends to take control of the Strait of Hormuz as the conflict with Iran continues to escalate. Trump says that the US wants to serve as a guarantor of security for the strategically important waterway, and that vessels passing through the strait will have to pay a 20 percent fee.
In a statement to Fox News, Trump announced that the US will act as a “guardian angel” for international shipping passing through the strategically important strait.
– We are taking over the Strait of Hormuz, said Trump in the interview.
On his own platform, Truth Social, the president also writes that the US wants to introduce a 20 percent fee for all traffic passing through the strait. However, he does not clarify who will pay the fee or how such a system would work.
READ ALSO: Trump: Iran Deal Is Over – “They are Liars – They Are Insane”
The statement comes after fighting between the US and Iran has again intensified. According to the news agency AFP, these are the most intense clashes since the ceasefire began in April.
Iranian authorities, on the other hand, claim that the country’s military actions in the region are a response to American attacks and that Iran is only reacting to the escalation initiated by the US.
– Every time the other side fails to uphold their commitments, we do not consider ourselves bound by ours, said Iranian government spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, according to AFP.
US: New Offensive Against Iran
On Monday morning, the US military command in the Middle East, Centcom, stated that a new wave of offensive operations against Iranian targets had been carried out.
According to Centcom, the operations aim to weaken Iran’s ability to attack international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement on X, the command writes that US forces are ready to ensure merchant ships can continue to operate in the area despite what it describes as Iranian threats and harassment.
Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea… pic.twitter.com/bOM2kmgRxz
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026
Iran Claims Control Over the Strait
Meanwhile, Iran claims that the Strait of Hormuz is under its control. The Revolutionary Guard describes the waterway as Iranian territory and states that the strait is closed.
According to Iranian state TV, warning shots were fired at two vessels attempting to pass through the area on Monday and were then halted.
According to Sky News, only six ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. That is the lowest traffic in five weeks, underscoring the increasing uncertainty around one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and gas.