Shipping Firms Avoid US-Led Hormuz Transits Following Iranian Attacks

Security Concerns Disrupt U.S. Military-Guided Transits

Commercial shipping firms are distancing themselves from a U.S.-assisted Traffic Separation Scheme designed to secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, seven maritime security and shipping industry sources confirm that companies view the route on the Omani side of the strait as increasingly dangerous. The shift comes after a wave of Iranian attacks on vessels, which have left the industry skeptical of the U.S. military’s ability to ensure safe passage. It remains unclear if the commercial ships recently attacked were sailing under the U.S. scheme.

While the U.S.-assisted scheme has enabled the export of tens of millions of barrels of oil, helping dampen the impact on energy prices of the largest-ever disruption in oil and gas supplies, the current security climate has eroded industry confidence. One shipping source stated, The US doesn’t seem to have any control over the situation, adding that their company opted not to sail through the strait due to crew safety concerns and the deteriorating security situation. Torbjorn Solvedt, principal Middle East analyst with risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, noted, Iran’s continued ability to target ships sailing through the Omani route means the Trump administration’s proposed solution to keep ships moving is unlikely to work. White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

President Trump Abandons Proposed 20 Percent Cargo Toll

The uncertainty surrounding shipping security was compounded by a brief but significant policy shift from the White House. President Trump announced a proposal on Monday in a post on Truth Social, declaring the United States would be known as THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT and would charge a 20 percent toll on all cargo shipped through the strategic waterway. According to CNN, the decision surprised many senior administration officials and Gulf allies, despite months of warnings from advisers that such a move could undermine U.S. war objectives and align with Iran’s longstanding argument that ships transiting the strait should pay fees.

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The proposal faced immediate pushback from regional partners. Leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar engaged in a diplomatic effort to persuade the president to reverse course. By Tuesday, President Trump dropped the toll proposal after those countries agreed to increase investments in the United States. I put it out yesterday, I thought it was good, Trump said on Tuesday, according to CNN. I was called by different people, different countries, kings and emirs … and they said we’d love to do it a different way.

Regulatory and Diplomatic Context

White House officials had spent Monday attempting to determine how the unprecedented tolling system would operate, including who would pay and how fees would be collected, as confusion deepened when Trump suggested Gulf allies rather than shipping companies would bear the cost. Advisers had argued the toll plan could increase energy costs, create political risks ahead of November’s midterm elections, and contradict the administration’s stated opposition to fees on international waterways.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said in late June that international law does not permit countries to impose tolls on international waterways and signed a joint statement opposing any tolls, fees or attempts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz. Following the announcement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed the proposal, stating, Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service. A White House official told CNN the president had considered tolls as a way to reimburse the United States for securing shipping through the waterway but ultimately preferred the investment commitments offered by Gulf partners.

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