President Donald Trump has signaled that his administration may soon formally designate the Strait of Hormuz as a territory of the United States. Speaking at a police academy on Long Island, New York, on Friday, the president stated he intends to make the declaration "pretty soon." The waterway serves as a critical global chokepoint, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies typically passing through it.
The administration’s current stance on the region remains ambiguous, as it is unclear if the president's remarks represent a formal shift in policy or a rhetorical escalation. The comment arrives as the United States continues its military efforts against Iran, which have included a blockade of Iranian ports and shipping lanes for several months. "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 said. "Essentially, that’s what it is. We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to."
The Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed since the start of the conflict between the US and Israel against Iran in February. Earlier in the week, the president utilized Truth Social to claim that the US possesses "total control" over the area and expressed an intention to maintain that position, despite the fact that the waterway is an internationally navigable strait bordered by Oman and Iran.
Tehran has responded sharply to the president's claims. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, stated on X that the country would not be intimidated by US threats or shows of force, asserting that authority over the opening and closing of the strait remains solely with Iran. The Iranian government has maintained a consistent list of demands for reopening the passage, including the release of frozen assets, the lifting of sanctions, full compensation for war damages, and a correction of US behavior.
The protracted conflict has resulted in a notable increase in fuel prices, placing financial strain on American consumers. Addressing these costs, the president remarked, "When you have to pay a little bit more, you’re at $4, it’s OK, I mean, it’s not. I’ll never apologize. I did the right thing." As the war enters its sixth month, peace negotiations remain at an impasse with little sign of a near-term resolution.
