Strait of Hormuz: How Trump gave Iran a weapon deadlier than any nuclear weapon – The

Over the decades, the United States and its allies have spent billions in cyberattacks, the assassination of scientists, economy-devastating sanctions, and exhausting diplomacy to prevent Iran’s nuclear ambitions.However, after a brutal month-long war with combined US-Israeli forces, Tehran may have gained something deadlier than any atomic bomb from President Donald Trump: control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Follow live updates on the ceasefire in the war between the US, Israel and IranOn Wednesday, the United States and Iran reached a conditional ceasefire for two weeks, reopening the vital strait for Gulf oil and its exports. Trump announced that he would “suspend bombing and attacks on Iran” if Tehran cleared shipping lanes through Hormuz.In a post on Truth Social, he declared that the pause was justified because US forces had “already achieved and exceeded all military objectives.”Read also: Toll on the Strait of Hormuz? Report: Iran requests cryptocurrency payments from shipping companiesIt follows his previous fiery threats to wipe out Iran “in one night,” warning that “an entire civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back” — threats that drew global condemnation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Pope Leo XIV.How did Iran strangle the Strait of Hormuz?Before the Iran-US war, some 138 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, transporting a fifth of the world’s oil and vital fertilizers for the world’s crops.

But as the conflict erupted, Iranian threats and attacks stopped almost all traffic through the narrow strait. Traffic in March fell to less than 100 vessels.At the beginning of the siege, Trump tried to solve this problem through diplomatic efforts and back-channel dialogue. After this tactic failed, he deployed an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East and investigated the possibility of the US Navy escorting oil tankers.Frustration began to grow on him, as evidenced by Truth’s profanity-laced Easter social post:He added: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, combined in one day, in Iran.

There will never be anything like it!!! Open the strait, you madman, or you’ll live in hell – just watch! Thank God. “President Donald J. Trump,” he added.However, Iran has retained the advantage in this vital artery, taking advantage of cheap drones, sea mines, and its geography to wage an asymmetric war.“Safe Passage Fee”According to reports, Iran is now trying to formalize its control of the strait as part of a broader geopolitical strategy after weeks of conflict.As part of its proposals related to a possible long-term peace agreement, Tehran wants the authority to impose transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to officials, these fees will not be fixed but can vary depending on the type of ship, the nature of its cargo and the prevailing conditions.Reuters reported that Iran is also working on a framework that may require ships to obtain permits or licenses before being allowed to pass, in coordination with regional mechanisms that may include Oman.Despite the ceasefire, shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz remained limited after the announcement. CNN reported that analysts warn that ships and insurers are unlikely to resume normal traffic until they see continued safety signals.“The ceasefire is a necessary first step, but it does not mean commercial shipping immediately returns to normal across international traffic lanes in the strait,” said Charlie Brown, senior consultant at Dark Fleet Tracking and a former US Navy officer.Shipowners are awaiting guidance from maritime security channels, flag states and maritime war risk insurance companies before returning ships to the strait. Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has attacked at least 19 ships near the strait, choking off crude oil supplies to global markets.The Iranian Foreign Minister said that “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible through coordination with the Iranian Armed Forces.”Joint protocol with OmanIranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said last week that Tehran is drafting a protocol with Oman that requires ships to obtain permits and licenses to pass through the strait, saying that this step aims to facilitate transit and not restrict it.Iran claimed that the money collected from the ships would be used for post-war reconstruction, as the conflict caused widespread destruction of the country’s defence, administrative and civilian infrastructure.Oman said at the time that it had held talks with Iran about options to ensure smooth transit, but did not say whether any agreements had been reached.The official said, without going into details, that the fees will vary depending on the type of ship, its cargo, and other unspecified prevailing conditions.Iran, in its 10-point ceasefire proposal, had a clause allowing both Tehran and Muscat to impose transit fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.But Oman opposed Iran’s request and said: “Tolls cannot be imposed to cross Hormuz.”According to the Omani Minister of Transport, the Sultanate has signed agreements guaranteeing that fees will not be imposed on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Minister affirmed the Sultanate’s commitment to ensuring free and safe navigation in the strategic corridor.The 34-kilometre strip of water between Iran and Oman is considered an international waterway, and neither country has imposed fees in the past.

The narrow mouth of the Arabian Gulf facilitates nearly a fifth of global oil trade.Joint venture with the United States?Meanwhile, Trump said he was planning a “joint project” with Iran to set traffic fees in the Strait of Hormuz after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal.ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl asked Trump if he agreed with Iran imposing tariffs on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and the Republican leader replied: “We’re thinking about doing it as a joint project.”

“It’s a way to secure it, as well as secure it from a lot of other people.”“It’s a beautiful thing,” Trump added.The situation is therefore not only about a fragile ceasefire, but also about shifting control over one of the world’s most important maritime choke points. What began as an attempt to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions has only strengthened Tehran’s grip on the world strait.