US to restore Iran blockade, charge fees for Strait of Hormuz shipping

BreakingUS to restore Iran blockade, charge fees for Strait of Hormuz shipping Trump says Iranian ships and those trading with Iran will be barred, while other commercial traffic will pay a 20% transit fee US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington would restore its blockade of Iran and impose fees on commercial vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, after a fresh exchange of attacks cast further doubt on efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict. Posting on social media, Trump said Iranian vessels and ships trading with Iran would be barred from transiting the strategic waterway, while other commercial traffic would be allowed to continue under a new system requiring payments for safe passage. “We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving,” Trump said online. “All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.” He said the United States would levy a 20 per cent charge on qualifying cargoes moving through the waterway, describing the measure as a way to fund “any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World.” The announcement marked a significant escalation in Washington’s confrontation with Tehran after diplomatic efforts failed to produce a breakthrough and hostilities resumed in recent days. More to follow...