By Elwely Elwelly, Tala Ramadan and Katharine Jackson
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and would ensurethe Strait of Hormuz stays open — for a fee — while warning thatU.S. forces would hit Iran again "very hard" in the coming hours after the two sides exchanged missile and drone attacks.
The latest hostilities followed Iran's announcement at the weekend that it was closing the vital waterway, casting further doubt on an interim deal to halt the war and driving oil prices higher.
"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE," Trump said on Truth Social, adding that the U.S. would collect a 20% toll on all cargo shipped through the strategic strait"as a matter of FAIRNESS".
He predicted more U.S. strikes in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
