The US has said it will reimpose its naval blockade of Iran on Tuesday, on what would have been the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The landmark nuclear deal was finalised in Vienna on July 14, 2015 after being agreed by Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
Speaking on Monday, Trump said the United States would once again tighten pressure on Iran and introduce a 20 percent transit fee for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that Washington would assume the role of “guardian” of the strategic waterway.
The announcement marks a sharp reversal from Trump’s earlier praise of the agreement reached last month, which he had described as a breakthrough that could pave the way for broader peace and stability in the Middle East.
The proposed shipping fee has also raised legal and diplomatic questions, as previous US officials had maintained that imposing charges on vessels transiting international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz would conflict with established international maritime law.
The latest move comes amid rapidly escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran, with both sides exchanging attacks and concerns mounting over the security of one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments pass.
