Trump says U.S. will control Strait of Hormuz, hints at more Iran attacks

President Donald Trump declared the United States will "take control" of the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a potential escalation of conflict over the crucial waterway. In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump stated, "We're going to be the ones to control it, and we'll see. We have to be compensated for it."

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We're going to be the ones to control it, and we'll see. We have to be compensated for it.

Trump further elaborated on his intentions, saying, "We're going to be the protector of that waterway, and we may have to be the ones to operate it." He emphasized that the U.S. would demand payment for securing the strait, adding, "We're going to protect it, and we're going to be paid a lot of money for it. You can't expect us to do that for free."

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We're going to be the protector of that waterway, and we may have to be the ones to operate it.

The remarks come amid ongoing military confrontations between the U.S. and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran announced the closure of the strait on July 11, citing "unauthorized passage." Both nations have exchanged missile and drone attacks in the vicinity, with Iran targeting U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

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We're going to protect it, and we're going to be paid a lot of money for it. You can't expect us to do that for free.

Trump also hinted at resuming attacks on Iran, stating, "They've always broken the deal. We've had 10 deals with these people, and now we're going to hit them very hard." The Iranian Revolutionary Guard responded with a statement on July 13, asserting that the only way to restore normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz is to cease U.S. military intervention. They warned that "continued interference could lead to greater incidents in the world's oil and gas sector."

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They've always broken the deal. We've had 10 deals with these people, and now we're going to hit them very hard.