Tensions in the U.S.-Iran conflict have risen again after President Donald Trump announced that the United States will reinstate what he called an Iranian blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
He also said the U.S. will charge a 20% cargo fee on shipments that receive American assistance while crossing the key waterway. Following the latest escalation, Bitcoin continued moving lower after recently trading above $64,000.
Trump Announces New Hormuz Measures
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the United States is restoring the Iranian blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to his statement, the measure is intended to block only Iranian ships or vessels linked to Iran’s customers from entering or leaving the strategic oil passage. At the same time, he claimed the strait would remain open to all other countries, with or without Iran’s cooperation.
Trump added that the United States will now be known as “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT.” He also said the U.S. would receive a 20% reimbursement on all cargo shipped through the route, describing it as payment for the security and protection provided in the area.
He noted that the process would begin immediately.
U.S.-Iran Conflict Intensifies
The latest announcement comes after Trump previously said the United States was “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz, which had already raised expectations that Washington could impose a toll or fee system on vessels using the route.
The move follows another rise in tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Reports cited in the article said Iran’s navy declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice.
Iran has also reportedly targeted several vessels in the strait in recent days as the battle for control of the waterway intensifies.
Because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, any disruption there has the potential to affect global energy markets, investor sentiment and risk assets such as cryptocurrencies.
Traders Doubt Traffic Will Normalize Soon
Market participants are increasingly skeptical that shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz will return to normal in the near future.
According to Polymarket data mentioned in the report, traders currently see only a 16% chance that traffic will normalize by August 31.
Those odds have fallen sharply from around 48% earlier this month. The drop reflects growing concern after Trump declared that the ceasefire was over and after both sides continued exchanging strikes.
With tensions still high, traders appear to believe that disruptions in the region could last longer than previously expected.
Bitcoin Extends Its Decline
The renewed geopolitical pressure has also weighed on the crypto market.
Bitcoin has continued to pull back from its recent high above $64,000. Based on the report, the leading cryptocurrency was down more than 2% on the day and trading near $62,400, according to TradingView data.
The decline suggests that investors are shifting away from riskier assets as uncertainty around the U.S.-Iran conflict deepens.
If the situation in the Strait of Hormuz worsens further, both traditional and crypto markets could remain under pressure in the short term.
