President Donald Trump announced he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a United States territory, a waterway that carries roughly one‑fifth of global seaborne oil. The remark comes amid a six‑month stalemate with Iran over the strait’s closure and could signal a shift in U.S. policy toward the conflict.
The statement was made at a rally in Garden City, New York, on August 14, where Trump said the move would follow “defeating” Iran. Iran’s deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected the claim, insisting the strait remains under Iranian authority. The U.S. and Israel launched the war on February 28, and both sides have imposed naval blockades to pressure the other.
Fuel prices have surged since the war began, with U.S. consumers paying noticeably higher gasoline costs. The heightened tension over a chokepoint that handles a fifth of oil shipments adds to market volatility and is likely to influence energy pricing discussions ahead of the November midterm elections.
A White House official later described Trump’s comment as a joke, contrasting with the president’s portrayal of it as a serious policy intention. Additionally, while Trump asserts total control of the strait, Iranian officials maintain that only Iran can open or close the passage.