Trump Threatens to Claim Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has said he intends to declare the Strait of Hormuz “territory of the United States”, escalating rhetoric over the strategically vital waterway amid continuing conflict with Iran. The statement represents a political assertion rather than a change in the strait’s internationally recognised legal status.
Trump Claims US Control of Strait of Hormuz
Speaking in New York on August 14, Trump said the United States currently exercises effective control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz because of its naval presence.
He claimed vessels could not pass without US approval and suggested Washington could formally declare the waterway American territory “pretty soon”.
Trump had earlier described the Strait as international waters and said no country should control it.
Iran Rejects US Claims Over Hormuz
Iran has disputed Washington’s claims of control and continues to assert its own authority over shipping routes through the strategically important waterway.
Traffic through the Strait has fallen sharply during the conflict, with commercial vessels facing security threats, attacks and substantially higher insurance costs.
The Strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, historically carrying around one-fifth of global petroleum consumption.
US Declaration Would Face Legal Questions
A unilateral American declaration would not by itself transfer sovereignty over the Strait to the United States.
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and is recognised as a strait used for international navigation, where international law protects transit passage.
Trump also urged Americans to accept higher fuel prices as part of the cost of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue.
