A move by Donald Trump to levy a 20% toll on shipping for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz waterway has been branded “state-backed highway robbery” by critics in Britain.
The US president claims charging a fee on cargo for use of the channel is a “matter of fairness” to cover the cost of providing security, but the plan has prompted an immediate backlash in the UK.
The Liberal Democrats argue it is “an act of economic extortion” and “a flagrant violation of international law”.
The US administration has repeatedly voiced its opposition to tolls being imposed by Iran.
The vital sea route had been open before the conflict launched by the US and Israel on February 28.
Mr Trump also announced a blockade of Iranian ports would resume, having been lifted last month as part of the interim ceasefire deal he has declared over following renewed hostilities.
The US military said it will come back into force on July 14 at 9pm UK time.
The action by the White House comes amid an escalating stand-off between Washington and Tehran over the Gulf channel, which has seen both sides exchange fire.
The latest clash came after Iran attacked a container ship on Sunday in the strait.
Iran claims it controls the waterway, while this is disputed by the US and other countries, which highlight international law on freedom of navigation.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: “The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran.
“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving.
“All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”
He added: “The USA 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 process and formation will begin immediately.”
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller MP said: “Donald Trump’s plan to slap a 20% tax on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is nothing short of state-backed highway robbery. Ambushing global trade at one of the world’s most vital chokepoints is an act of economic extortion.
“Extracting tolls like this is a flagrant violation of international law.
“The UK Government cannot afford to be a passive bystander while a volatile White House tears up the rules of global trade and regional stability, or while the Iranian regime continues to attack vessels in the Strait.
“Both Donald Trump and Tehran are once again holding the global economy to ransom.
“Keir Starmer must immediately co-ordinate with our international allies to reject this lawless toll, protect freedom of navigation, and work urgently to de-escalate this rapidly expanding conflict.”
The International Maritime Organisation, the United Nations agency which oversees safety and security in international shipping, said: “We have always been consistent on its stance on fees – IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation.
“There is no legal basis through which to introduce mandatory tolls simply to transit through a strait.”
Only last month, US secretary of state Marco Rubio stressed the US was against Iran charging fees for ships to use the international waterway.
He said at the time: “There isn’t a nation on Earth that supports having to pay money to go through the straits.”
Mr Trump also recently joined with other world leaders at the G7 summit in France, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to confirm that “the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the bedrock of international trade”.
Meanwhile, US central command (Centcom), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, revealed it had used one-way “kamikaze” surface drones for the first time in its latest attacks on Iran to strike a submarine and ship maintenance facility.
In a post on X, the US military said: “Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations.
“Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.”
Ending Tehran’s stranglehold on the sea route, which disrupted global oil and gas supplies and drove up fuel and food prices, had been a key demand in previous negotiations.
However, the initial deal reached between the US and Iran only provides for safe, toll-free passage of the waterway for 60 days, pending the outcome of a final agreement on Tehran’s disputed nuclear plans.
The pact also leaves it to Iran and Oman, in conjunction with other Gulf states, to “define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz”.
In the meantime, Iran has continued to try to exert leverage over the channel, including demanding ships seek permission to transit and raising the spectre of future charges.
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