President Donald Trump announced plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a United States territory after the conclusion of the war in Iran, framing the prospective move as an extension of an ongoing American naval blockade in the Middle East. The remarks, delivered during an Aug. 14 speech in Garden City, New York, drew an immediate and sharp rejection from Iranian officials, who asserted that Tehran maintains complete management and control of the vital oil shipping lane.
The exchange highlights intensifying rhetoric surrounding the critical waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman along the coasts of Iran and Oman. According to USA Today, Trump told supporters that American forces have effectively taken charge of maritime traffic through the strait. “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 during the New York address. “Essentially that’s what we have. We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to.”
It remains unclear whether Trump’s statements represent a formal shift in U.S. policy or a rhetorical escalation amid the broader military conflict. According to USA Today, Trump claims the United States has opened the passage to all commercial vessels except those from Iran, a restriction that he argues has severely damaged Tehran’s oil-dependent economy.
Iranian Response and Regional Maritime Security
Tehran swiftly dismissed the U.S. president’s assertions regarding territorial control. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, rejected the remarks in a public statement, emphasizing that the waterway operates outside American jurisdiction. “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power,” Gharibabadi stated.
Tensions in the region have escalated significantly following the collapse of a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran in July aimed at negotiating an end to hostilities. Since the diplomatic breakdown, Iran has resumed targeting vessels navigating the strait that lack authorization from Tehran, according to Gharibabadi. The security situation was further complicated when the United Arab Emirates blamed Iran for Aug. 13 drone strikes targeting two commercial tankers passing through the channel.
Despite the persistent threat of attacks, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth maintains that the U.S. military possesses the operational capacity to sustain its naval operations in the region indefinitely. During an Aug. 13 visit to Panama, Hegseth told reporters that American forces can maintain the blockade through routine ship rotations. “Indefinitely, the United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we’ll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we’ll continue to,” Hegseth said, as reported by USA Today.
Domestic Political Impact and Fuel Costs
During his New York speech, Trump also addressed the domestic economic fallout of the conflict, specifically rising energy costs that have pushed regular gasoline prices above $4 nationally. With the November midterm elections approaching, high fuel prices present a significant political hurdle for Republican candidates.
Trump defended the military campaign and dismissed criticism over the economic impact, stating he would “never apologize” for his decision to attack Iran. “For you to pay a tiny, little bit more for you’re gasoline, just remember,” Trump told the audience, arguing that the cost is justified to prevent “a very evil country” from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “When you have to pay a little bit more, you’re at $4, it’s OK ‒ I mean, I will never apologize, I did the right thing. You just have to remember that what we’re doing is a great service for the world.”