Trump says he will declare Strait of Hormuz a US ‘territory’ amid Iran war | US-Israel war on Iran News
Trump Proposes Claiming Strait of Hormuz Amid Growing Tensions with Iran
New York — President Donald Trump announced plans on Friday to declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States as tensions with Iran escalate. Speaking to a crowd in New York, Trump emphasized the importance of the waterway, which is critical for the global supply of oil, natural gas, and fertilizers.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” Trump stated, eliciting laughter from the audience.
Since late February, the U.S. and Israel have engaged in military actions against Iran, following a series of aggressive strikes. In response, Iran has restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital channel for approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. Prior to the conflict, the strait was open, but control over the waterway has emerged as a contentious issue in ceasefire discussions between the U.S. and Iran.
The Strait has also seen renewed fighting in recent months. In June, the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at decreasing military operations in the region. However, one condition of the agreement required Iran to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels, which both sides later accused each other of violating. By the end of the month, hostilities had resumed.
Negotiate efforts between the U.S. and Iran have led to a temporary reduction in fighting across the Middle East, but have not resulted in any definitive resolution to the conflict. Iranian forces continue to target commercial vessels in the strait, asserting that part of the waterway falls within their territorial jurisdiction. The U.S., for its part, has established a blockade in the area, recently firing upon a cargo vessel it accused of attempting to reach Iranian ports.
In his speech, Trump described the blockade as a necessary measure for global security, stating, “You just have to remember that what we’re doing is a great service for the world. Not only for ourselves, for the world,” and dubbed the blockade “a wall of steel.”
Trump’s visit to New York coincided with his support for Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, which will be pivotal for his administration and the party’s control of Congress.
Despite Trump’s assertions of victory over Iran, the conflict remains ongoing, with no clear resolution in sight. Public opinion in the U.S. largely opposes military actions against Iran, with a recent Quinnipiac University poll indicating that 60 percent of voters are against such measures.
Reports suggest that the U.S. may confront challenges in escalating military actions due to pressures on munitions supplies.
In response to Trump’s comments, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, expressed defiance on social media. He remarked, “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be taken over by a tweet, nor by an aircraft carrier, nor by issuing a decree, nor by an election speech. Iran is neither afraid of threats nor intimidated by a show of force.”
Both nations have discussed the possibility of imposing tolls on commercial traffic in the crucial waterway. Trump had previously suggested the U.S. could serve as the “guardian” of the Strait while charging a fee on goods passing through. Legal experts, however, assert that such tolls would violate international law, which generally safeguards the free transit of commercial maritime vessels.
Earlier statements from Trump have hinted at a desire to expand U.S. territories. In his second inaugural address in 2025, he envisioned a “growing nation” and has since pressured nearby regions, including Canada and Greenland, regarding sovereignty issues.
On Friday, Trump also stated he would leverage economic pressures to isolate Iran, which has faced heavy U.S. sanctions for years. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that new economic measures targeting Iran could be announced in the coming days.
