Donald Trump announced a new blockade on Iranian ports, which will prevent "Iran’s ships or customers" from entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz. 

He added that for doing so, the US will impose a 20 per cent charge "on all cargo shipped" to cover any and all costs of providing "safety and security" in the "volatile" region.

It is not the first time Trump has imposed a blockade on the vital shipping route. The one in April lasted three months, during which the US military fired on at least nine vessels which it said refused to comply with directions.

Trump's announcement followed a fresh round of strikes between the US and Iran overnight. US Central Command (Centcom) said it struck several targets, including a submarine and ship maintenance facility in response to Iranian attacks in the strait.

Responding to the introduction of a new blockade, Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei said: "We don’t need foreign workers to protect the strait!". 

This latest escalation has once again halted traffic through the strait, with two vessels appearing to have sailed east into the Gulf of Oman earlier today. Two other ships stopped transmitting their locations after previously appearing to head out of the strait