USA imposes a 20 percent customs duty on cargo ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz

The USA announced its plan to impose a 20 percent customs duty on all cargo traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The President of the USA stated that their country provides security in this unstable region, describing the tax in question as a form of compensation.

The US administration announced that the strait will remain open for ships of countries that pay the tax. However, it was stated that the blockade applied to Iranian ports will continue. Iran reacted by calling these customs tariffs a form of ransom.

While the Tehran administration refused to abandon its control rights over the strait, it warned other countries in the region against cooperating with the USA. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps further increased tensions by claiming that the sea route was de facto closed.