Trump: "U.S. to Impose Hormuz Strait Toll; Major Strikes to Continue Tomorrow" (Comprehensive)

De Facto Termination of MOU and Ceasefire with Iran
Trump: "20% Toll on All Shipped Cargo"

AFP Yonhap News Agency

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to re-impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. He also declared that all cargo shipments passing through the strait will be subject to a 20% toll fee. Trump emphasized that the previous memorandum of understanding (MOU) was created as a test for Iran, and warned that the U.S. would launch an attack by tomorrow against Iran, where hostilities have resumed during the ceasefire. Effectively, the ceasefire has collapsed. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported that two oil tankers passing through the strait were attacked by Iran.

President Trump: "We Will Strike Hard Again Tomorrow"

U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, announced on X (formerly Twitter) on the 13th (local time) that "starting at 4:45 p.m. on this day (0:15 a.m. on the 14th in Iran time), under the order of the Commander-in-Chief (the President), night airstrikes against Iran have continued for three consecutive nights." The statement added, "These airstrikes will continue to impose a heavy cost on the Iranian military and undermine their ability to attack innocent civilians and merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz." No specific details on the attacks or their scale were released.

This round of airstrikes came after President Trump signaled ongoing military action. Appearing on the conservative radio show "The Hugh Hewitt Show" on the same day, he said, "We will hit (Iran) hard again tonight and tomorrow," adding, "There is nothing they (Iran) can do about it. They have nothing. All they can do is bluster."

President Trump stated that he knows the whereabouts of Iran's leadership and could eliminate them, saying, "I don't want to talk about that issue. But we are definitely watching." He earlier asserted, "Instead of eliminating them, we are striking as an example," and criticized, "They are crazy people."

Regarding the ceasefire MOU with Iran, Trump downplayed its significance, stating that "it does not mean much" as it was signed prior to the 'actual agreement' for a full cessation of hostilities. "It was a kind of test, and they failed the test. They did not respect it," he said.

Iran has responded with countermeasures. The UAE Ministry of Defense announced on the 14th that "the state-run oil tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiya were targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz within Omani territorial waters." It was further reported that one Indian crew member of the Mombasa was killed and eight others (six Indians, two Ukrainians) were injured. Four of the wounded were reported to be in critical condition, and both tankers caught fire as a result of the attack.

"U.S. to Impose Toll Fees"

AP Yonhap News

The U.S. military has also reimposed a naval blockade on Iran. U.S. Central Command announced that, starting from 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the 14th (5 a.m. Korean Standard Time on the 15th), it would begin blockading maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The U.S. previously implemented a blockade on vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports and coastlines on April 13, but lifted it last month on the 18th after a ceasefire MOU was signed between the U.S. and Iran.

Prior to this, the U.S. military struck an Iranian naval base that Iran could have used to attack commercial vessels. According to The New York Times (NYT), for the first time ever, U.S. forces deployed maritime drones in an actual offensive operation, targeting submarine and warship maintenance facilities at the Bandar Abbas naval base in southern Iran. Central Command announced that it deployed three 'Corsair' unmanned surface vessels in the attack and emphasized, "This is the first time the U.S. military has used maritime drones in combat operations."

According to Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi protested against the announcement of the renewed blockade by stating, "Iran will forever remain the guardian of the Strait of Hormuz." The Iranian military also issued a warning, saying it would not allow U.S. involvement in managing the Strait of Hormuz.

Along with the blockade, President Trump declared that the U.S. would begin collecting toll fees from ships passing through the strait. On Truth Social, Trump said, "The United States will now be called the 'guardian of the Strait of Hormuz'," and added, "We will collect 20% of all shipped cargo to compensate for all the expenses required to provide safety and security for this highly unstable region." However, he did not explain whether the 20% would be levied on the cargo price, transportation costs, or which countries and vessels would be subject to this fee. Regarding the "20% of all shipped cargo," U.S. broadcaster CNN analyzed, "This implies a 20% charge on the value of the cargo for commercial shippers."

This position marks a departure from previous U.S. government policy. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the 23rd of last month, "The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, and no country has the right to impose tolls or fees. This is current international law." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz also criticized Iran's plan to levy toll fees, calling it "clearly illegal under international law."

Is the Ceasefire Broken?

With the U.S. embarking on full-scale airstrikes and reinstating the blockade, concerns are rising that war might break out again. President Trump has reportedly formally notified Congress of the resumption of hostilities with Iran. According to NYT, a notification letter dated the 11th has been obtained, which the Trump Administration officially acknowledges as proof that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is collapsing.

Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined. According to the WSJ, the average number of vessels passing through the strait over the weekend was 19 per day, more than half the previous week’s average. U.S.-supported shipping routes near Oman are reported to have all but ceased operationally.

The U.S. government’s stance regarding renewed war and the blockade of Hormuz is expected to be revealed during President Trump’s national address on the 16th (10 a.m. on the 17th). Though the specific agenda has not been disclosed, it is highly likely that Trump will outline response measures as both countries have re-entered armed conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the onset of the war with Iran, Trump delivered a national address on April 1, at which time he declared, "For the next two to three weeks, we will strike Iran with extreme force."

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