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U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States is reinstating what he called "the Iranian blockade" of the Strait of Hormuz and will seek a 20% reimbursement fee on all cargo shipped through the waterway to cover security costs, in a post on his Truth Social platform.
"The Hormuz Strait is open, and will remain open, with or without Iran," he noted.
"We are reinstating the Iranian blockade, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait," Trump added.
"The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as 'The Guardian of The Hormuz Strait,' but as such, and as a matter of fairness, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World. The process and formation will begin immediately. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump wrote.
Trump did not provide details on how the 20% fee would be collected or enforced, or from which countries or shippers the U.S. would seek reimbursement.
The post came after Trump previewed the move earlier Monday in a phone interview with Fox News' "Fox & Friends," where he said: "We're taking over the strait... We'll become the guardian of the strait. Maybe we'll call it the guardian angel of the strait, and we should be reimbursed for that."
Details to follow. This article will be updated...
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