President Donald Trump declared on Friday that he considers the Strait of Hormuz to be an American territory, escalating his rhetoric in the ongoing war with Iran and dismissing Teherans willingness to negotiate.
Speaking at a campaign rally in South Carolina for Sen. Darline Graham, Trump told supporters the US has total control of the strait and the surrounding land areas. We do not even know if we won, because I view the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now, Trump said, adding that Iran would love to make a deal, but they are not ready to make the right deal in my opinion.
The remarks mark Trumps most forceful claim to the waterway since he first floated the idea last week of declaring the strait US territory after the conclusion of the Iran war. The Strait of Hormuz, bordered by Iran and Oman, carries roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments and has been the focal point of the conflict since the US-Iran war began in late February.
Iran Rejects Sovereignty Claim
Irans deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, swiftly rejected the statement, calling Trumps remarks fanciful delusions. The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian, Gharibabadi wrote on X. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi separately dismissed Trumps recently declared economic warfare against Iran, writing: We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies.
Tehrans diplomatic corps went further, with a foreign ministry spokesperson warning that claiming another nations sovereign waterway would amount to the complete erosion of sovereignty as the foundational basis of the UN-based inter-State system, and a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism.
Diplomatic Stalemate Deepens
Trumps comments come as the broader diplomatic effort to end the war stalls. The US maintains a naval blockade on Iranian ports while traffic through the strait remains at a fraction of pre-war levels. American gas prices have climbed nearly a dollar per gallon over the past year, driven by the disruption to global energy supply chains.
Iran has demanded that any lasting ceasefire extend to cover Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue operations against Hezbollah. The Strait of Hormuz situation remains the central obstacle to any comprehensive settlement, with both sides dug in over control of the waterway.
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