Oppose the Hormuz Toll, Blockade, and War Escalation With Iran

I’m writing today to urge you to step in again to stop the Hormuz toll, end the blockade of Iranian ports, and pull back from this war before it gets worse. Trump's announcement of a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz — a waterway that handled 20% of the world's oil trade before this conflict began — is an act of economic aggression that will hurt American families, not just Iran. It’s also unenforceable, and violates numerous international laws of navigation. In plain terms, it’s piracy. Oil prices already jumped and stock indexes fell the moment the announcement dropped. That's not strength, that's self-inflicted damage. The ceasefire signed in mid-June explicitly barred charges on commercial ships. Trump capriciously declared it "over" and replaced it with a toll and a blockade. There are now active exchanges of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces, and tanker traffic has been reduced to a trickle. This is a war footing, not a negotiating strategy. Vote against any measure that funds or authorizes these tolls, oppose the blockade, and demand a return to actual diplomacy, by the State Department, not real estate tycoons, before this escalates beyond anyone's control. Thank you.