President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the Trump Hormuz shipping policy would no longer include a proposed 20% cargo fee for vessels seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The decision reverses an announcement made just one day earlier, replacing the controversial charge with promises of increased trade and investment from Gulf nations while leaving broader military measures against Iran unchanged.
In a statement published on social media, Trump said the fee would be replaced after what he described as productive discussions with regional leaders. Instead of charging commercial vessels, Gulf countries are expected to expand investments in the United States, although the administration has not disclosed specific commitments or financial figures.
The move marks a significant policy adjustment as Washington attempts to maintain support from key Middle Eastern partners while continuing pressure on Tehran during one of the region’s most volatile security crises.
Trump Hormuz shipping policy changes after Gulf negotiations
According to Trump, conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait convinced him to abandon the reimbursement proposal. Rather than imposing shipping charges, the administration will pursue expanded economic agreements designed to strengthen commercial ties with Gulf allies.
Despite removing the fee, the White House confirmed that military operations against Iran would continue. U.S. officials said the planned blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic would proceed on schedule, with naval forces enforcing restrictions on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
The Pentagon announced that operations would begin during the afternoon Eastern Time, describing the mission as part of broader efforts to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping in the Gulf. Additional operational guidance for commercial vessels was expected through official maritime notices.
For background on one of the world’s busiest energy corridors, the Strait of Hormuz remains a strategic passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Military tensions intensified shortly before the blockade took effect. U.S. Central Command reported another series of strikes targeting Iranian military capabilities that officials said had been used against commercial shipping operating near the Strait.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by claiming responsibility for attacks against two supertankers it described as “non-compliant.” Iranian officials also announced missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. military facilities in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, along with installations in Jordan.
Regional governments reported additional security incidents throughout the day. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said two tankers sailing through Omani waters were struck by Iranian cruise missiles, resulting in one fatality. Bahrain activated emergency sirens and instructed residents to seek shelter, while Jordan reported intercepting several Iranian missiles before they reached populated areas.
The renewed confrontation comes despite a 60-day ceasefire framework reached earlier in the summer. Although negotiations had continued intermittently, recent attacks by both sides have severely undermined confidence that the agreement could prevent another broader regional conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said mediators including Oman, Qatar and Pakistan remained engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions, but neither Washington nor Tehran has clarified whether meaningful negotiations remain active.
Strait of Hormuz remains the center of the dispute
Control over the Strait of Hormuz has become the central issue dividing Washington and Tehran. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne energy supplies typically move through the narrow waterway, making any disruption immediately significant for global markets and fuel prices.
Shipping activity has fallen dramatically since hostilities escalated. Data from commodities intelligence firm Kpler showed that only a fraction of the normal number of vessels recently crossed the Strait compared with traffic levels before the conflict intensified.
The United States continues to argue that the Strait is an international waterway governed by international maritime law. Iran, however, maintains that vessels passing through the area must comply with its navigation requirements and receive authorization when operating near waters under Tehran’s control.
Commercial shipping has increasingly become caught between those competing legal interpretations. Iranian authorities have repeatedly warned vessels that fail to follow their instructions, while U.S. officials insist freedom of navigation must remain protected.
Information about international maritime regulations governing strategic waterways is available through the International Maritime Organization.
Trump stated that the renewed blockade would focus exclusively on Iranian shipping and customers doing business with Iran rather than imposing broader restrictions on all commercial traffic. He also described the United States as the principal guarantor of maritime security in the region.
U.S. Central Command advised commercial mariners approaching the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz to maintain communications with American naval forces using established maritime emergency channels while awaiting updated operational guidance.
Disagreement over ceasefire terms fuels renewed conflict
Analysts argue that conflicting interpretations of the memorandum signed between the United States and Iran have contributed directly to the latest escalation.
One of the most disputed sections requires Iran to make arrangements for the safe passage of commercial shipping. Specialists say Washington interprets that language as a commitment to facilitate international navigation, while Tehran believes it grants Iran greater authority over how vessels transit the Strait.
Michael Singh of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy has argued that the wording leaves substantial room for competing legal interpretations, allowing both governments to claim compliance while accusing the other side of violating the agreement.
Additional analysis of regional diplomacy and security developments is available from the International Crisis Group, which has warned that ambiguous language in the interim agreement has created new opportunities for confrontation rather than reducing the risk of conflict.
Before announcing the blockade, U.S. officials had encouraged commercial vessels to use southern routes near Oman’s coastline to reduce exposure to military activity. Iranian authorities rejected that recommendation, saying it conflicted with the memorandum signed by both governments.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf publicly highlighted the section of the agreement referring to Iran’s responsibility for maritime arrangements, arguing that it supports Tehran’s interpretation of the document. U.S. officials, meanwhile, maintain that Iran has repeatedly violated the terms through attacks on commercial shipping and regional military installations.
Diplomatic mediation continues through Gulf states, including Qatar, although uncertainty remains over whether formal negotiations can resume while military operations continue. The latest escalation follows the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the conflict, with his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, pledging retaliation against the United States and Israel.
Further information about ongoing U.S. policy in the region can be found through the U.S. Department of State.
