Trump Demands 20% Levy on Hormuz Trade as US Threatens Renewed Iranian Port Blockade

## Trump Targets Hormuz Trade with 20% Levy Demand President Donald Trump has escalated pressure on Iran by demanding a 20% levy on commercial trade passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically critical maritime chokepoints, according to Seatrade Maritime. The US president framed the demand as a mechanism to 'claw back' costs associated with American naval operations defending freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf region. Trump also indicated that the United States would reinstate a blockade of Iranian ports as part of a broader campaign of economic and strategic pressure on Tehran. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil transit chokepoint, with an estimated 20-21 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products passing through it daily — roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. Any disruption to, or taxation of, trade through the strait would have immediate and far-reaching consequences for global energy markets, tanker operators, and commodity traders. The proposal raises significant questions under international maritime law, particularly regarding the right of innocent passage enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Legal and industry analysts are likely to scrutinise whether the US has the legal authority to impose such a levy on third-party commercial vessels transiting international waters. For tanker owners and operators, the development adds a fresh layer of geopolitical risk to an already volatile region. Shipping insurers and war-risk underwriters will be closely monitoring the situation, as any escalation could trigger upward pressure on war-risk premiums for vessels transiting the Gulf. The announcement comes amid ongoing US-Iran tensions and follows a period of heightened maritime security incidents in the region, including attacks on commercial vessels attributed to Iranian-backed forces. Industry stakeholders, including major oil companies, tanker operators, and flag states, are expected to respond cautiously while monitoring diplomatic developments. *Source: Seatrade Maritime*