New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has said the United States will soon declare the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz a US territory if Iran is defeated, escalating tensions over the key waterway that has been at the centre of the ongoing US-Iran conflict.
Speaking at a political rally in New York on Friday, Trump said he would make the declaration “pretty soon” after what he described as the defeat of Iran. He also said Americans may have to pay more for fuel as a consequence of the conflict, arguing that the cost was justified by the objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Trump’s remarks drew a sharp response from Tehran on Saturday. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz “will remain Iranian” and rejected the possibility of the waterway being taken over through a political declaration or military pressure.
“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech,” Gharibabadi said in a post on X, and maintained that decisions on closing or reopening the waterway would remain under Iranian control. He also said Iran would continue enforcing its blockade until the United States accepted what Tehran described as its defeat.
The dispute has further intensified concerns over commercial shipping through the waterway, which is one of the world’s most important energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries a substantial share of global seaborne oil shipments, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for energy markets.
Trump had earlier claimed that the US had “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and described the American naval presence in the area as a “wall of steel”. Iranian military officials have rejected those claims, insisting that Tehran retains control over access through the strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also accused Washington of making a major strategic miscalculation over the waterway. Tehran has maintained that the strait will not return to normal operations unless the US meets its conditions.
The latest exchange came amid renewed reports of attacks on commercial vessels in and around the strait. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident in the Strait of Hormuz on August 14. Separate reports said a tanker was struck by an unmanned aerial vehicle while attempting to exit the waterway, suffering minor damage. The crew was reported safe.
The maritime incidents have added to concerns over the safety of international shipping as the US-Iran confrontation continues. Any sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could have wider consequences for global oil supplies, shipping costs and energy prices.
The latest escalation comes after months of military confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The conflict began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, followed by Iranian attacks on US and Israeli targets in the region.
For now, control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a central point of contention, with Washington asserting its military position and Tehran insisting that it retains authority over the strategic waterway.
