Trump vows to claim Strait of Hormuz as US territory

President Donald Trump said the United States could claim the Strait of Hormuz as territory after defeating Iran, escalating tensions over the vital global energy route.

WEBDESK – MEDIABITES NEWS – MADIHA RAJPOOT

President Donald Trump said Friday that he plans to claim the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory after the United States defeats Iran, making an extraordinary territorial assertion over one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

Speaking at a campaign-style rally on Long Island, Trump said the United States would move to change the status of the strategic waterway once the conflict with Iran ends.

“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.

The declaration goes significantly beyond Trump’s previous comments about the waterway and suggests that his administration could seek a permanent American role in controlling a passage through which a substantial share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments move.

The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Its disruption has already sent energy prices higher and sharply reduced commercial shipping.

Trump defends higher gas prices

Trump also defended rising gasoline prices, telling supporters that Americans should accept paying more as the cost of confronting Iran.

Gasoline prices have risen to around $4 per gallon in many parts of the United States, putting additional pressure on households and businesses already dealing with higher energy costs.

“When you have to pay a little bit more, you’re at $4. It’s OK,” Trump said. “I’ll never apologize. I did the right thing.”

Trump has repeatedly argued that the military campaign against Iran is necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. His comments on Friday framed higher fuel costs as a temporary sacrifice for what he described as a broader national security objective.

The increase nevertheless presents a political challenge for an administration that has promised Americans lower energy costs.

Sharp criticism of NATO allies

Trump also renewed his criticism of NATO allies, saying the United States had spent decades supporting the alliance but had not received sufficient assistance in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

“NATO wasn’t there for us, by the way,” he said, arguing that European and Asian partners had been reluctant to participate in efforts to secure the waterway.

The comments reflected Trump’s longstanding criticism of NATO burden-sharing and his broader demand that allies contribute more to collective security operations.

His remarks also suggested that Washington may be increasingly prepared to act independently in securing strategic trade and energy routes.

From renaming the strait to claiming it

Trump’s latest statement represents a major escalation from earlier comments about the waterway.

In March, he floated the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz the “Strait of America” or potentially naming it after himself.

A claim that the waterway should become U.S. territory would go considerably further, raising questions about sovereignty, international maritime law, and the rights of neighboring states.

The strait currently serves as an international maritime passage used by commercial vessels from countries around the world. Any attempt by Washington to establish territorial control would likely face opposition from Iran, Gulf countries, and other governments concerned about freedom of navigation and regional sovereignty.

Iran faces growing economic pressure

Trump also highlighted Iran’s deteriorating economic conditions as evidence that U.S. pressure is working.

He pointed to extremely high inflation and the sharp deterioration of Iran’s currency, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that Washington is preparing another round of economic measures.

The expected sanctions would add to military pressure already being applied to Tehran, potentially further restricting Iran’s ability to export oil and access international financial markets.

Iran has meanwhile continued to insist on its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, creating a direct clash between Tehran’s claims over the waterway and Washington’s stated intention to secure it under American control.

A global energy flashpoint

The strategic importance of Hormuz makes Trump’s proposal significant well beyond the U.S.-Iran conflict.

A large portion of internationally traded oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway. Prolonged disruption can raise crude prices, increase shipping and insurance costs, and contribute to inflation in energy-importing economies.

The latest proposal therefore raises concerns about what a postwar settlement could mean for global energy security.

A permanent U.S. territorial claim would also require Washington to address complex questions involving maritime boundaries, freedom of navigation, and the sovereignty of surrounding states.

Any such move would almost certainly trigger diplomatic opposition and could reshape U.S. relations with Iran and its Gulf neighbors.

Trump’s postwar vision

The comments indicate that Trump is thinking beyond the immediate military campaign and toward a postwar arrangement in which Iran’s ability to threaten energy shipments is sharply reduced.

The United States has already increased military pressure on Tehran while tightening economic sanctions. Trump is now suggesting that control of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors could form part of the conflict’s eventual outcome.

Whether the territorial proposal becomes formal policy or remains political rhetoric is unclear.

But the announcement has added another layer to an already volatile conflict, raising the possibility that the battle over Iran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz could evolve into a much broader dispute over sovereignty, maritime power, and control of global energy flows.