Trump announced the US will become the 'guardian' of the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20 percent toll on all cargo passing through, directly opposing Iran's claim to control the critical waterway amid escalating military tensions. This move effectively restarts a US blockade on Iranian commerce through one of the world's most important shipping routes — roughly one-third of all seaborne oil passes through it. Iran's military has countered by saying the strait will remain closed until further notice, setting up a direct confrontation over control of global energy supplies. The statement comes after months of US-Iran strikes following the February 2026 airstrike that killed Iran's previous supreme leader.