Published July 12, 2026 at 11:17 AM ET · Updated July 14, 2026 at 12:02 AM ET
Trump says U.S. will guard Hormuz as Iran targets more tankers
6 independent outlets are covering this story. Verification: Confirmed — reported independently by wire/mainstream and conservative outlets. Patriot Watch links to original reporting; we don't republish it.
Iran attacked two UAE tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member. President Trump declared the United States the guardian of Hormuz and said the U.S. struck Iran hard, adding that the strait remains open. Trump also announced a 20 percent fee on Hormuz shipping, and oil prices jumped amid the escalation.
Patriot Watch first flagged this story 1 d ago, when Washington Times reported it. Coverage has since grown to 6 independent outlets, including 3 wire/mainstream feeds. The most recent report came 4 hr ago from The Hill. Verification tier: Confirmed — reported independently by wire/mainstream and conservative outlets.
⚖ The Constitutional Angle
Learning Resources v. V.O.S. Selections held that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs and that the Constitution vests the power to lay taxes and duties in Congress alone. A unilateral 20 percent fee on Hormuz shipping faces the same barrier: without a specific congressional delegation, the President cannot levy such a charge.
Learning Resources v. V.O.S. Selections 607 U.S. 229 (2026)
Vote: 6-3 · Opinion: Roberts (C.J.)
THE ANSWER TO THE LITIGATED QUESTION: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the President to impose tariffs. The Constitution vests the power to lay taxes and duties in Congress; the Executive has no inherent authority to impose peacetime tariffs (a point the government conceded), so any presidential tariff power must come from a congressional delegation. IEEPA's grant of authority to 'regulate ...
Precedent facts from the PW Law Library — primary-source verified & independently audited
