Trump announces new actions.

U.S. President Trump posted on a social media platform on July 13, saying: "The Strait of Hormuz is now open and will remain open, regardless of whether Iran participates." He also stated: "We will resume the maritime blockade against Iran. The reason we say this is that we will only block Iranian vessels or their clients from entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz. All other countries will enjoy fair and open access to the strait." However, he added: "From now on, the United States will be known as the 'Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz.' But as guardian, for fairness, the U.S. will receive a 20% compensation from all cargo volumes to cover all expenses necessary for maintaining security in this volatile region."

Trump's remarks reveal how fragile any so-called ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran truly is, while exposing the self-serving calculations behind American interests. While claiming that "the Strait of Hormuz remains open," he actually lays bare three clear strategic intentions: First, restarting the maritime blockade against Iran to choke off Iran’s oil export routes, using maximum pressure to force Iran back to the negotiating table; Second, positioning himself as the "guardian" of the strait and directly demanding a 20% "toll fee" from all passing vessels—turning this global energy lifeline into a private ATM for the U.S., using money from other nations to fund America’s overseas military presence; Third, leveraging the pretext of "ensuring maritime safety" to firmly seize control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The current fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran could collapse at any moment under such overtly aggressive maneuvers. Whereas previously the U.S. would cloak its actions under the banner of "freedom of navigation," it now openly displays its hegemonic rules—effectively telling the world: anyone wanting to transport oil or goods through the Strait of Hormuz must first pay the U.S. a "protection fee." This move fully exposes Trump’s calculation: simultaneously raising crude oil prices through blocking Iran while filling the U.S. defense budget with "protection fees," turning the Middle East into a high-return business venture.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870624058022912/

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