Trump Wants U.S. to Control Strait of Hormuz, Demands Reimbursement

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the United States would likely assume control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, and expects to be compensated for this responsibility. The president made these remarks following a weekend marked by heightened tensions and exchanges between the U.S. and Iran across the Middle East.

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We're going to keep the strait, and we'll probably run it. We'll become the guardian of the strait. And we should be reimbursed for that.

"We're going to keep the strait, and we'll probably run it. We'll become the guardian of the strait," Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News. He added, "And we should be reimbursed for that." Trump emphasized that other wealthy nations should contribute financially, stating, "They're on our side, and we can't be expected to do that for nothing."

The control of the Strait of Hormuz has become a significant point of contention in ongoing peace talks and broader diplomatic efforts. Iran's actions, including effectively blockading the strait, have previously driven up energy prices and fueled global inflation concerns. Trump reiterated his stance, saying, "We're going to guard it. We're going to get paid for guarding it, a lot of money."

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They're on our side, and we can't be expected to do that for nothing.

In response to the escalating situation, Tehran announced that passage through the strait remains suspended. Iran stated that permits would only be issued once "stability and calm" are restored. This follows an incident where Iran declared the strait closed after a vessel reportedly traveled on an unauthorized route and was struck. Iran's Revolutionary Guards also warned that "continued interference could lead to greater incidents in the global oil and gas sector."

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We're going to guard it. We're going to get paid for guarding it, a lot of money.

Shipping data indicated a significant drop in tanker traffic through the vital waterway, reaching its lowest level in two months amid the renewed tensions. Ship brokers Gibson noted in a report that a prolonged closure of Hormuz "is a recipe for much tighter supply, higher prices and significant downside risk for tanker markets."

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We had a deal. It was a done deal, and then they broke it. They always break it. We've had 10 deals with these people, and so we're just going to hit them very hard.