Trump Wants to Claim Hormuz Strait After Iran War

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared his intention to claim the Strait of Hormuz as American territory following a potential defeat of Iran. This statement significantly heightens tensions in the region and raises questions about the future of global oil trade routes.

Speaking on August 14, 2026, during an event in Long Island, New York, Trump asserted that the United States effectively controls the strategic maritime passage due to its naval blockade. He stated that no vessel can transit the strait without U.S. authorization. This claim comes as Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the strait's control, with diplomatic efforts to end the conflict stalled.

Trump's assertion places the Strait of Hormuz at the center of the conflict with Iran. He suggested that the U.S. could soon declare the strait as its territory, basing this possibility on Washington's perceived control over navigation through its military presence and blockade against Iran. However, legally, such a declaration would not alter the strait's current status.

The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Parts of the international navigation corridor fall within the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman. Tehran disputes the U.S. claim of control, with Hossein Taeb, head of the Basij paramilitary organization, stating that Hormuz is under Iranian control. Washington maintains that its naval deployment dictates vessel transit. These opposing positions are part of an escalating dispute amid failed diplomatic attempts to halt the war.

Trump's declaration highlights a fundamental distinction between military control and territorial sovereignty. Establishing a military presence, imposing a blockade, or influencing navigation does not automatically grant a nation ownership of a territory. Trump has not specified a legal mechanism for the U.S. to incorporate the strait. His argument focuses on the control he claims Washington currently exercises over maritime traffic. The strait's strategic importance for Persian Gulf oil producers makes this dispute particularly significant, especially as it forms part of the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

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The United States already controls the maritime passage due to the deployed blockade in the area and stated that no vessel can cross it without American authorization.