Trump to Hold Nationwide Press Conference on the 16th... Expected to Announce Iran Blockade and Hormuz Control Plans

"20% Fee to Be Imposed on Cargo Passing Through Hormuz"
No Detailed Explanation on Implementation Provided
U.S. Military to Resume Blockade of the Strait from 4 p.m. on the 14th
Trump Notified Congress of Resumption of Hostilities on the 11th
Global Oil Prices Surge Sharply

U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a nationwide press conference on the 16th (local time) at 9:00 p.m., which is 10:00 a.m. on the 17th in Korea. Having announced the resumption of a maritime blockade against Iran and a plan to impose a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, he is expected to present specific positions regarding potential military operations against Iran and U.S. plans for control of the strait.

U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House

President Trump announced the press conference schedule on July 13 via his social networking service, Truth Social. Although he did not specify the agenda, it is highly likely he will explain the U.S. response, given that the United States and Iran have re-entered a military confrontation over control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Previously, President Trump stated that the United States would resume a maritime blockade on ships entering and leaving Iranian ports and impose a 20% fee on all cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz to cover costs required for maintaining safety and security in the region. However, he did not specify whether the 20% would apply to the cargo price or to shipping fees, nor did he clarify which countries and vessels would be required to pay the fee.

President Trump's plan to impose a 20% fee is also at odds with the position the U.S. government has previously expressed. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the 23rd of last month in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), "The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, and no country can impose tolls or fees. This is current international law."

Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, also criticized Iran's proposed tolls as "clearly illegal under international law." The United States and Gulf countries also declared in a joint statement on the 25th of last month that they reject all tolls, fees, and unilateral control attempts regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Military Resumes Maritime Blockade on Iran... Iran Launches Additional Attacks on U.S. Military Bases in the Middle East

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, announced in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) that, starting at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the 14th (5:00 a.m. on the 15th in Korea), the U.S. would resume the blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.

Before resuming the blockade, the U.S. military also expanded military measures aimed at weakening Iran's ability to attack merchant ships. According to the New York Times (NYT), for the first time ever, the U.S. military deployed maritime drones in an actual attack operation, targeting submarine and vessel maintenance facilities at Iran’s southern Bandar Abbas naval base.

CENTCOM stated that three 'Corsair' unmanned surface vessels were deployed in the attack, and emphasized, "This is the first time the U.S. military has used maritime drones in a combat operation." The command further claimed that this attack weakened Iran’s capacity to target merchant ships.

The United States had previously started a blockade on ships entering and leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas on April 13, but lifted it on the 18th of last month after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a ceasefire. However, after Iran recently attacked civilian ships using U.S.-supported routes and declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the United States resumed attacks on Iranian military facilities. Iran has also begun targeting U.S.-related facilities in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and other locations, resulting in renewed escalation of military clashes between the two sides.

As the United States reinstated the blockade, concerns over the resumption of war have grown. In fact, President Trump is reported to have officially notified Congress of the resumption of hostilities with Iran. The New York Times (NYT) reported it had obtained a notification letter dated the 11th, and stated that this constitutes official acknowledgment by the Trump administration that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran has collapsed.

Meanwhile, as tensions rise again in the Strait of Hormuz, the volume of ship traffic has also plummeted. Citing shipping data firm Kpler, the NYT reported that only 14 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 12th, the lowest number in a month.

International oil prices also soared by nearly 10% during the day. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for August delivery closed at $78.14 per barrel, up 9.4% from the previous day. On the ICE Futures Exchange, Brent crude for September delivery surged 9.6% to $83.30 per barrel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.