Trump Declares Himself «Guardian of Hormuz»: Oil Prices Surge 9%

Donald Trump unveiled a controversial new proposal on Truth Social following a renewed escalation between the United States and Iran that sent oil prices soaring by more than 9%. Arguing that Washington should assume permanent responsibility for protecting one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors, Trump said the United States should receive financial compensation from international shipping in return for guaranteeing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Presenting the idea as both a security initiative and an economic measure, Trump declared: «The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran.» He followed that announcement by stating that the United States would become «THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,» claiming American military power would ensure commercial vessels could continue navigating the waterway despite growing regional instability.

Trump went a step further by proposing a 20% charge on all cargo transported through the strait. Writing that the arrangement was necessary «as a matter of FAIRNESS,» he stated: «All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait. The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World.»

The proposal immediately sparked criticism from opponents, who argued the Strait of Hormuz had remained largely secure before the United States and Israel dramatically expanded military operations against Iran several months earlier. Critics accused Trump of proposing to charge the international community to solve a crisis they believe his own administration helped create, describing the announcement as both provocative and economically unrealistic.

The latest escalation follows the collapse of the June 17 peace memorandum signed in Versailles, which had briefly reduced hostilities between the opposing sides. On July 8, Iran declared that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz required its authorization before launching attacks against multiple commercial oil and gas tankers. The incidents effectively ended the short-lived ceasefire and reignited direct confrontation across the Gulf.

Trump answered the attacks by authorizing a large-scale military response targeting more than 170 Iranian sites. American strikes reportedly hit radar installations, air-defense systems and fast-attack naval boats as Washington sought to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. Tehran quickly retaliated by launching drones and missiles toward U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.

While attending the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump harshly criticized Iran’s leadership, expressing particular anger that Tehran launched attacks during the mourning period following the death of its Supreme Leader. Speaking to reporters, he declared: «There’s something wrong with them. They’re cuckoo… They’re sick people. They’re led by sick people, and they’re vicious, violent people.» His comments reflected the increasingly confrontational tone adopted by the White House.

Trump also dismissed the prospect of returning to negotiations with Tehran. Rejecting further diplomatic engagement altogether, he said: «I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum… As far as I’m concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them. They’re liars.» The remarks signaled that military pressure, rather than renewed talks, now appears to be the administration’s preferred strategy.

The president also turned his attention to domestic critics who believed he had not responded forcefully enough against Iran. Rather than accepting those arguments, Trump labeled them «fools,» underscoring divisions within his own political coalition over how aggressively the United States should confront Tehran as the conflict continues to escalate.

Financial markets responded immediately to the renewed fighting. Concern that military operations could disrupt one of the world’s most important oil transit routes pushed crude prices up by more than 9%, one of the sharpest single-day increases since the conflict began. The Strait of Hormuz remains vital to global energy supplies, with a significant share of internationally traded crude passing through the narrow waterway each day.

Trump’s proposal to make the United States «THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT» while collecting a 20% fee from international shipping is likely to become one of the most controversial aspects of his Middle East policy. As military operations intensify and markets remain volatile, the debate now extends beyond the battlefield, encompassing global trade, energy security and the future role of the United States in one of the world’s most strategically important regions.