USA Announces Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports – World Maritime Organization Rejects the Plan

Trump's Justification: 20 Percent Levy on Cargo

In addition, Trump wants to claim revenues amounting to 20 percent of the cargo value, since the USA is to guarantee safe passage through the strait. Details have not yet been disclosed. Trump also declared: „Wir werden der Wächter der Meerenge“ and announced that the USA wanted to „take over“ control of the Strait of Hormuz and be paid for the military security there.

The UN shipping organization IMO rejected the plan, stating that there was no legal basis for it. According to international law, the passage must remain free of customs duties and fees. The World Maritime Organization IMO insists on fee-free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

IMO Reaction: No Legal Basis

The UN specialized agency based in London also emphasized that any agreement between the riparian states of the region must ensure the non-discriminatory and unimpeded right of passage for all ships. The IMO stated that this is the position of the organization and that there is no legal basis for the US measure.

International reactions were not long in coming. As early as June, Trump had threatened a kind of toll for the Strait of Hormuz if the negotiations with Iran failed. Previously, the USA had described similar plans by Iran as unacceptable.

Iran also rejected the plan. Tehran declared that it would under no circumstances allow the USA to intervene in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian ports were reportedly already blocked earlier in the dispute over the strait.

Effects on the Oil Market

The announcement triggered clear reactions on the international financial markets. The price of a barrel of crude oil rose by almost eight percent when the news of the planned blockade and the planned levy became known.

Regional expert Philipp Dienstbier assessed the situation. In his assessment, the Iranian regime has no interest in a stable peace with the USA. According to Dienstbier, Tehran believes it has emerged as the winner from this war.

Expert Assessment by Dienstbier

Dienstbier also pointed to the role of the Revolutionary Guards. The economic machinery of the Revolutionary Guards is a major factor for this group. Hardliners in Iran partly earned money from the illegal trade in oil and gas and profited from the precarious situation of their country.

The background to the current escalation goes back to the year 2026. The article is part of a daily summary of the news for Monday, July 13, 2026, and was published, among others, on ntv.de. Deutschlandfunk broadcast a detailed report on the topic on 14.07.2026.

The legal situation is disputed. The USA invoke the argument of cost compensation for securing the shipping route, while the IMO refers to international law, which regulates the free passage through international straits. Observers assess the step as a significant escalation of the conflict that has been simmering for months.

Open Questions and Possible Consequences

It is still unclear how other riparian states on the Persian Gulf will react to the US blockade. The question of whether the announced 20 percent levy on cargo can actually be imposed also remains open. The USA has not yet published details on implementation.

The US government justifies its stance with security interests in a region that it describes as extremely unstable. According to US statements, the blockade is to specifically target ships calling at or leaving Iranian ports, while civilian shipping on international routes is to continue.

The measure intensifies the already tense situation in the region. Observers expect further diplomatic negotiations, but also possible retaliatory measures by Iran. The coming days will show whether the blockade will be implemented as announced and what effects it will have on global trade and energy supply.

This news was broadcast on 14.07.2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program and summarizes the developments of the previous days.