Strait of Hormuz: How Trump gave Iran a weapon deadlier than any nuke

For decades, the US and its allies poured billions into cyberattacks, assassinations of scientists, economy-destroying sanctions and grueling diplomacy to block Iran’s nuclear ambitions.Yet after a brutal month-long war with joint US-Israeli forces, Tehran may have gained something deadlier than any atomic bomb from President Donald Trump: Dominance over the Strait of Hormuz.On Wednesday, the US and Iran struck a conditional two-week ceasefire, reopening the vital chokepoint for Gulf oil and exports. Trump announced he would “suspend bombing and attacks on Iran” if Tehran clears shipping lanes through Hormuz.In a Truth Social post, he declared the pause justified because US forces had “already met and exceeded all military objectives”.This follows his earlier firebrand threats to wipe Iran out “in one night,” warning a “whole 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 Iran choked Strait of HormuzBefore the Iran-US war, around 138 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, hauling one-fifth of global oil and vital fertilisers for worldwide crops.But as conflict erupted, Iranian threats and attacks halted nearly all traffic through the narrow chokepoint. March traffic plunged below 100 ships.At the beginning of the blockade, Trump tried to resolve this with diplomatic efforts and backchannel dialogue. After this tactic failed, he deployed a thousand more troops to the Middle East and looked into possible US Navy escorts for oil tankers.The frustration started to grow on him, proof of which was his profanity-laden Truth Social post on Easter Sunday:“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F****** Strait, you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he added.Yet Iran held the advantage at this vital artery, leveraging cheap drones, sea mines, and its geography for asymmetric warfare.‘Charge for safe passage’According to reports, Iran is now attempting to formalise its control over the strait as part of a broader geopolitical strategy following weeks of conflict.As part of its proposals linked to a potential long-term peace deal, Tehran wants the authority to charge transit fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to officials, these charges would not be fixed but could vary depending on the type of vessel, the nature of its cargo, and prevailing conditions.Iran is also working on a framework that could require ships to obtain permits or licences before being allowed to pass, in coordination with regional mechanisms that may involve Oman, Reuters reported.Despite the ceasefire, shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz has remained limited after the announcement. Analysts warn that vessels and insurers are unlikely to resume normal traffic until they see sustained safety signals, CNN reported.“The ceasefire is a necessary first step, but it does not mean commercial shipping immediately normalises through the international traffic lanes in the Strait,” said Charlie Brown, senior advisor at Dark Fleet Tracking and a former US Navy officer.Shipowners are waiting for guidance from naval security channels, flag states, and marine war-risk insurers before sending vessels back into the strait. Since the start of the conflict, Iran has attacked at least 19 vessels near the strait, choking crude supplies to global markets.Iran’s foreign minister has said that “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces.”Joint protocol with OmanIran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabdi, said last week that Tehran was drafting a protocol with Oman to require ships to obtain permits and licences to pass through the strait, saying this move was intended to facilitate rather than restrict transit.Iran claimed that the money collected from ships will be used for post-war reconstruction, as the conflict has caused widespread destruction to the country’s defence, administrative, and civilian infrastructure.At the time, Oman said it had held talks with Iran on options to ensure smooth transit but did not say if any agreements had been reached.The fee would vary depending on the type of ship, its cargo, and other unspecified prevailing conditions, the official said, without elaborating.Iran, in its 10-point ceasefire proposal, had a provision allowing both Tehran and Muscat to levy a transit fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.However, Oman contradicted Iran’s demand and said, “No tolls can be imposed for crossing Hormuz.”According to Oman’s transport minister, the Sultanate has signed agreements guaranteeing that no fees will be imposed on ships crossing the Hormuz Strait. The minister emphasised Oman’s commitment to ensuring free and safe navigation at the strategic chokepoint.The 34-kilometre strip of water between Iran and Oman has been considered an international waterway, with neither country having levied a toll in the past. The narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf facilitates roughly one-fifth of global oil trade.Joint venture with US?Meanwhile, Trump said that he is planning a “joint venture” with Iran to set up tolls in the Strait of Hormuz after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal.Jonathan Karl, an ABC News journalist, asked Trump if he approved of Iran charging a toll on ships that go through the Strait of Hormuz, to which the Republican leader responded, “We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it — also securing it from lots of other people.”Trump added, “It’s a beautiful thing.”The situation, therefore, is not just about a fragile ceasefire, but a shift in control over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. What began as an effort to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions has strengthened Tehran’s hand over the chokepoint of the world.