New Delhi, July 14 -- President Donald Trump on Monday asserted that the US would once again start blocking Iranian ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and proposed a 20% fee for all other cargo shipped through the waterway.

Trump's announcement that 'the US would act as the Strait's GUARDIAN' further escalated tensions with Iran, deepening the crisis over control and access to one of the world's most critical shipping routes.

"The U.S.A. 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 t...