Woofun AI reports that the geopolitical landscape surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has fractured, with the United States reinstating a maritime blockade against Iran while President Trump simultaneously announced a 20% transit fee for all goods moving through the critical waterway. This dual-action strategy, combining military restriction with economic extraction, has triggered immediate volatility in global energy markets and heightened the risk of direct conflict between Washington and Tehran.

The policy framework was articulated by Trump on Monday the 13th, as reported by Xinhua News Agency and CCTV News. He declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to international traffic, but the newly imposed 'blockade against Iran' would specifically target Iranian vessels and their clients, restricting their entry and exit. Trump framed the 20% fee on all transported goods as 'compensation' for the United States acting as the 'guardian of the Strait of Hormuz.' He argued that this charge reflects the principle of 'fairness,' covering the necessary expenses to maintain security and safety in what he described as a tumultuous region. The administration stated that relevant processes and deployments would commence immediately.

Market participants reacted swiftly to these announcements during the early trading session. U.S. stocks experienced mixed movements, with the S&P 500's decline widening to 0.5%, while spot gold plummeted nearly 3%. In contrast, energy commodities surged; West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil surpassed $75, marking a 5% increase during the session, and Brent crude approached the $80 mark, also rising nearly 5%. The U.S. dollar index and U.S. Treasury yields rose in tandem, reflecting a flight to safety and inflationary hedging amidst the escalating geopolitical uncertainty.

The military dimension of the crisis intensified during the midday trading session. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the U.S. military would restart the maritime blockade against Iran at 4 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday the 14th, which corresponds to 4 AM Beijing Time on Wednesday. This confirmation drove international crude oil prices up nearly 10%. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif condemned Trump's 20% fee on the Strait of Hormuz as 'excessive,' asserting that Iran has always been the true guardian of the Strait of Hormuz and rejecting the U.S. claim to unilateral control and taxation rights.

Violence erupted on the ground during the late trading session. According to Iranian media Tasnim, explosions were reported on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, with additional blasts heard in the southern Iranian ports of Abbas and Konarak. CCTV reported that on the evening of the 13th local time, four explosions were heard in the eastern part of Abbas port. Following the close of U.S. stock trading hours, three more explosions were reported in Abbas port in the early hours of the 14th local time. Iranian officials have not yet confirmed the nature or source of these explosions, leaving the situation ambiguous and heightening fears of a broader military engagement.

Woofun AI data shows that the threat of further escalation was underscored by Trump's statements after U.S. stock trading hours on Monday. He declared that the U.S. would 'hit' Iran hard tonight and tomorrow, referring to a 'heavy strike' that kept oil prices elevated. Brent crude rose more than 10% compared to last Friday's close, driven by the anticipation of direct military action. Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Trump also suggested that a deal with Iran might still be reached, stating he wanted 'compensation' for the Strait of Hormuz and that the U.S. would seek compensation from countries that benefited from the protection provided for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Military engagements were confirmed shortly thereafter. According to Xinhua News Agency citing Iranian Fars News Agency, a U.S. military MQ-1 drone was shot down by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' air defense system over the Strait of Hormuz late Monday night. Earlier, U.S. Central Command revealed that the U.S. military had struck a submarine and ship repair facility at the Iranian naval base in Abbas port on Sunday, marking the first time the U.S. military used armed unmanned vessels in combat. At 4:45 PM Eastern Time on Monday, under Trump's orders, the U.S. military began a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, aiming to impose heavy costs on Iran's armed forces and weaken their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN agency, expressed opposition to the proposed fees but stated it would wait for more details. During the midday trading session, the Joint Maritime Information Center, overseen by the U.S. Navy, announced that the U.S. military would begin enforcing the maritime blockade against all Iranian ports and coastal areas at 8 PM GMT on July 14 (4 AM Beijing Time on the 15th). The blockade applies to all vessels regardless of flag, covering the entire coastline of Iran, including ports and oil terminals.

However, neutral vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian destinations are not hindered, and humanitarian cargo transport is allowed subject to inspection. Following this announcement, WTI and Brent crude rose above $78 and $83, respectively, with intraday increases reaching 9.86% and 9.9%, close to 10%.

Political friction within the U.S. and historical context complicate the situation. Although Trump stated the fee plan would be implemented immediately, the White House provided no further details on enforcement or communication with U.S. allies. Commentators note that these remarks have intensified the dispute over whether this critical shipping corridor is open to traffic. Previously, on the 13th, the spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces' Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters stated that the U.S. would never be allowed to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz. The spokesperson warned that the Iranian Armed Forces would strongly retaliate against U.S. military actions that intrude into designated shipping lanes without authorization and interfere with the passage of merchant ships and oil tankers, citing recent actions by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian Islamic Republic Army as evidence. Earlier on Monday, Trump told Fox News that the U.S. has guarded the strait for 50 years without compensation and wants to be paid for putting personnel in danger.

Navigational safety has become a central point of contention. According to Xinhua News Agency, the Iranian Embassy in the UK stated on social media on the 13th that the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz is 'unsafe, unreliable, and prone to accidents.' The embassy claimed that to comply with the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, Iran established a temporary maritime safety corridor without technical or military barriers, informing the IMO.

However, they accused the U.S. of directing vessels toward a dangerous southern parallel route closer to Oman, which they described as legally questionable and unsafe. After the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, the strait formed two lanes: the northern lane controlled by Iran and the southern lane where the U.S. military provides navigation assistance. On Sunday the 12th, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed until further notice due to illegal foreign interference, though U.S. Central Command stated on Sunday morning Eastern Time that 'traffic is still continuing' and that Iran does not control the strait.

The legal and political ramifications are deepening. A spokesperson for the IMO stated that the organization firmly opposes charging fees for the passage of ships used for international navigation through the strait, calling such measures legally untenable. Shipping industry officials expressed concern that Trump's move violates international law, questioning how it could make navigation safer or what guarantees it provides. Domestically, Trump has formally notified Congress of the resurgence of hostilities with Iran. In a letter to congressional leaders on the 10th, Trump wrote that the U.S. military conducted 'defensive strikes' against targets within Iran on the 7th. This notification has intensified the dispute between Congress and the White House; although both chambers previously voted to require the president to end hostilities or seek approval, the White House insists that Trump, as Commander-in-Chief, is acting within his constitutional powers.