Trump Says Hormuz Will Become US Territory 'Very Soon'

Donald Trump said he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a United States territory “pretty soon”, pointing to American control of the waterway through naval action as disruptions continue to unsettle global oil and gas markets.

The US president made the comments on Friday during a visit to a police academy in Garden City, New York. He linked his proposal to the continuing impact on shipping through the strait, a key route for oil, natural gas and other commodities, amid the war in the Middle East and elevated energy prices.

Control Tied To U.S. Naval Action

Trump said US forces have the ability to manage access to the strait, adding that vessels would not pass unless Washington allowed it. He did not provide further detail about how the declaration would be carried out.

His remarks came as the conflict continues and as Iran seeks to preserve influence over the strait. Tehran views the waterway as a major bargaining tool in negotiations with Washington, particularly with the US midterm elections scheduled for November.

Iran War And Nuclear Concern

In the same exchange, Trump said the United States could not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. He also said the US had used its military more than he would have preferred in pursuing its objectives.

Trump repeated his assessment that Washington is making major progress against Iran, claiming that critics and parts of the media are not acknowledging the scale of what he described as US success. He said Iran’s leadership was no longer in a position to negotiate, describing the situation as a problem.

His comments echoed a broader theme of his campaign messaging, in which he has argued that the stance taken by the United States is bearing fruit despite uncertainty around developments in the region.

Tehran’s Position And Regional Dependence

Trump’s statement also followed a social media post on Wednesday in which he said the US had “total” control of the Strait of Hormuz and would keep it.

According to reported Iranian positions, the strait would remain closed until Washington accepted Tehran’s demands. Those demands include war reparations, the lifting of a US naval blockade and the withdrawal of US forces from locations around Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz is heavily used for energy imports by multiple countries. Korea, among others, has said it hopes for the full reopening of the route as its supply depends on shipments passing through the narrow passage.

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15 August 2026