Iran just ran out of chances.
President Donald Trump announced the United States is resuming military operations against Iran with the explicit goal of seizing full control of the Strait of Hormuz — the critical oil shipping chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the world.
Trump declared America will now be known as “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT” and will charge a “reimbursement fee” on cargo passing through in return for “providing safety and security.”
“We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday morning.
“WE GAVE THEM A CHANCE”
The president’s frustration boiled over across multiple platforms — Truth Social, White House remarks, and radio interviews — making clear his patience with Tehran has run out.
Trump said Iran blew what he described as an 11-hour negotiating session that he believed was ending with a deal.
For the “umpteenth time,” Trump thought a breakthrough was at hand. Instead, Iran walked away.
Now the regime faces the consequences.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategic waterways. Nearly one-fifth of global oil supply passes through the narrow channel between Iran and Oman. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close it during past confrontations with the West.
Trump’s move flips that threat on its head — the U.S. will control the strait, not Iran. And the mullahs will watch American forces collect fees on every tanker that sails through waters they once claimed to dominate.
The announcement signals a dramatic escalation in Trump’s maximum-pressure campaign against the Iranian regime. After months of attempted diplomacy, the administration is pivoting to direct military confrontation with Tehran.
Iran now faces a choice: accept American control of its most critical economic leverage point, or fight a war it cannot win.
Trump just made the calculation simple.
POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service.
Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER.
20% is of course too much. We will be fair
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 13, 2026
If nothing else, the US could have attacked the entrances with Tomahawks like it did on the Esfahan complex tunnels and stopped ongoing construction.
Going through either solid mountain is not possible. Must look for vulnerabilities. For Fordow, it was the two ventilation…
— David Albright (@DAVIDHALBRIGHT1) July 14, 2026
