President Donald Trump told a rally in Garden City, New York, on Aug. 14 that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi replied that the waterway, which carries about one‑fifth of global oil and LNG, will remain under Iranian control, heightening geopolitical risk ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
The comment came during a political rally on Aug. 14, while Iran has maintained a blockade of Hormuz since the Feb. 28 war began. Tehran has also targeted regional allies with drones and missiles, and the United States has imposed its own naval blockade of Iranian ports. Recent attacks on two ADNOC vessels were blamed on Iran, and Iran and Oman are negotiating a joint management scheme for the strait.
The heightened tension has pushed oil and gas prices higher, creating a political headache for Trump as energy costs become a focal point of the upcoming midterms. Vice President J.D. Vance said keeping U.S. energy prices low is the top priority, while the market watches the standoff for further price impact.
DW noted it was unclear whether Trump’s claim signaled a policy shift, while The Hindu reported an unnamed White House official later clarified the remark as a joke, contrasting with Iran’s firm denial that the strait will ever be under U.S. sovereignty.