US Reimposes Hormuz Blockade, Demands Tolls

President Donald Trump announced the restoration of a naval blockade on Iran and declared the United States the 'guardian of the Strait of Hormuz,' demanding a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the waterway.

The move marks a collapse of the recent ceasefire and a return to open hostilities, with the U.S. military launching a third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets.

Iran mocked the toll demand, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pledging to charge a lower rate, while the U.S. warned it would 'hit Iran hard' and threatened to strike the underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site.

Oil prices surged over 9% on the news, their biggest jump since 2020, as the escalation raised fears of a prolonged conflict.