Trump Blockades Iran, Bombs It for a Third Night, Then Cancels His Own Toll Plan

U.S. forces carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran on Tuesday, July 14, described as a “seven-hour wave” that hit dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coast. The action followed President Trump’s Monday announcement that the U.S. would reinstate a naval blockade of Iranian ports and impose a 20% fee on cargo shipped through the strait, which he framed as reimbursement for providing security in the waterway [2, 3]. Trump reversed the toll plan on Tuesday, posting on Truth Social that he would instead pursue “Trade and Investment Deals” with Gulf states, while maintaining the strait remains open to all shipping except vessels tied to Iran [1, 3]. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, and Jordan’s military said it intercepted three ballistic missiles that entered its airspace from Iranian territory early Wednesday, reporting no damage or casualties [5]. Oil prices rose following the renewed strikes [3].

The whiplash drew swift bipartisan criticism in Washington. Senate Democrats Adam Schiff, Tim Kaine, Andy Kim, Jeff Merkley and Chris Van Hollen filed a new War Powers Resolution, with Schiff arguing the administration’s continued strikes have “no foundation in law” without congressional authorization, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump’s prior “understanding” with Iran “fell apart faster than the ink could dry” [6]. Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana separately voiced opposition to the toll proposal, calling the strait “international waters” that shouldn’t carry a toll “by anyone” [7].

Why It Sucks:

Republicans

• The toll plan was dead on arrival. Even GOP allies like Sen. John Kennedy called the 20% cargo fee illegal overreach on international waters, forcing an embarrassing reversal within 24 hours [4, 7].
• Oil prices threaten the midterm map. Some Republicans had wanted the earlier ceasefire to hold specifically to keep gas prices down heading into the midterms, and renewed strikes undo that math [7].
• Flip-flopping undercuts credibility with allies. Announcing a blockade, a toll, then scrapping the toll for vague “trade deals” in under a day signals chaotic policymaking to Gulf partners the U.S. needs onside [1, 3].

Democrats

• Congress got cut out of a war decision again. Schiff’s new War Powers Resolution argues the administration has no legal basis to keep striking Iran without a congressional vote [6].
• A fragile “understanding” collapsed overnight. Schumer says the administration’s claimed deal with Iran fell apart almost immediately, exposing it as never having been real [6].
• Escalation risks feeding inflation. Renewed strikes and blockade threats are already moving oil prices, a cost Democrats warn gets passed straight to consumers [6, 3].

Gulf Shipping Industry and Regional Governments

• A toll announced and killed in a day. Shippers and Gulf governments had to absorb a 20% cargo fee threat before it was abruptly replaced with undefined “investment deals,” with no clarity on what comes next [2, 1].
• Neighbors are catching the fallout. Jordan had to intercept three Iranian ballistic missiles over its own territory, a direct spillover risk for a country not party to the fight [5].
• Volatility is the new baseline. Oil markets swung on the strikes and the blockade news, adding pricing uncertainty for every business that moves goods through the strait [3].

Sources & Citations:

[1] Washington Post: Trump retreats from shipping toll in Strait of Hormuz
[2] CNBC: Trump proposes 20% toll on cargo through Strait of Hormuz; restarts Iran blockade
[3] CNBC: Oil prices rise as U.S. launches new Iran airstrikes, while Trump abandons Strait of Hormuz fee
[4] Al Jazeera: ‘Piracy’: Will Trump’s 20 percent Hormuz toll find takers?
[5] ABC News: Iran live updates: IRGC claims targeting of US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan
[6] Time: Republican and Democrat Lawmakers Criticize Trump Over Resumption of Iran War
[7] E&E News (POLITICO): Republicans question Trump’s Hormuz plan