Trump Says He Will Declare Strait of Hormuz U.S. Territory After 'Defeating' Iran
President announces intention to claim strategic waterway as ceasefire talks stall and 60-day negotiation window expires
President Donald Trump told supporters at a political event in Garden City, New York on Friday that he would "very soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, framing the announcement as contingent on defeating Iran in the ongoing war.
"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, adding that the U.S. maintains a naval blockade and that "no ships get through unless we want them to."
The remarks come as the 60-day negotiation period established by a June 17 memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran expired Monday with no permanent peace deal. The memorandum called for an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, sanctions relief for Iran, reconstruction funding, and an Iranian commitment to forgo nuclear weapons.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a critical chokepoint for global energy markets—before the war, roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transited through it daily. Since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected Trump's statement, saying on social media that "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's parliament separately approved a plan to ban U.S., Israeli, and other "hostile" vessels from the waterway.
Trump urged Americans to accept paying "a tiny little bit more" for gasoline, emphasizing the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The average U.S. gasoline price stood at $4.07 per gallon Saturday, up from $3.15 a year earlier. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration would impose measures on Iran "that have never been seen" as soon as this week.
How could this affect you
Traced by who's actually in the path of this — not everyone is.
Direct
If you drive or depend on goods transportation in the U.S.
Gasoline prices are already $4.07/gallon, up from $3.15 a year ago, due to reduced oil flows through Hormuz. Escalating rhetoric and expiring ceasefire talks could push prices higher if the strait remains contested or conflict intensifies, raising costs for fuel and freight-dependent goods.
Direct
If you work in global shipping, energy trading, or commodity markets
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries 20% of global oil and LNG. With the 60-day negotiation window expired, no deal in sight, and Trump signaling territorial claims, uncertainty over the waterway's status could sustain volatility in energy futures, freight rates, and insurance premiums.
Likely
If you follow international law or territorial sovereignty issues
A unilateral U.S. declaration claiming a waterway shared between Iran and Oman would lack legal standing under international maritime law. If pursued, it could set a precedent for other powers to make similar claims over contested chokepoints, undermining freedom of navigation norms.
Likely
If you're invested in defense contractors or U.S. military readiness
Extended naval blockades strain carrier deployments—the USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea over 260 days with reported morale and supply issues. Treasury's promise of unprecedented sanctions and Trump's rhetoric suggest continued or escalated military commitments, which could drive defense spending or stretch force availability.
Sources
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