Iran Blasts Trump's Plan to Claim Strait of Hormuz as US Territory
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Iran condemned remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting the United States could declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, dismissing the comments as "delusions" amid escalating tensions over one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.
Trump made the comments Friday during an appearance on Long Island, New York, stating that after the U.S. "finishes defeating Iran," he would "pretty soon" declare the strait "a territory of the United States." He asserted that Washington effectively controls the international waterway through its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian officials swiftly pushed back against the proposal. Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi declared that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats and maintained that the regulation of the strait remains under Iranian authority.
"Trump has said that after Iran's defeat, he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory!" Gharibabadi wrote in a post on X on Friday afternoon. "The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power."
"Once and for all, accept the reality: up to this point, you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade," he added.
Connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets, the Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil and natural gas shipments. Any dispute over its control carries significant implications for international energy supplies and global markets.
The disagreement over the waterway has emerged as a central point in the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran that began in late February. Tehran contends that portions of the channel fall within its territorial waters, whereas Washington seeks to guarantee unhindered commercial passage. The standoff has already contributed to elevated fuel prices and disruptions in international shipping lanes.
Trump's remarks follow a pattern of statements regarding expanded U.S. influence over strategic global locations. A recent Newsweek analysis noted that Trump has previously discussed potential scenarios involving Greenland, Canada, the Panama Canal, Gaza, Cuba, and Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export hub.
Related Story Map Shows Areas Trump Has Sought to Control After Hormuz Remarks ... Strait of Hormuz Passage The latest friction coincides with efforts by Iran and Oman to advance a framework governing future shipping through the strait, which includes proposals by Iranian officials to charge vessels fees for navigation, security, and maritime services.
According to a report by the Financial Times , analysts at JPMorgan suggested that Iran and Oman could establish a legal foundation for fees if structured as compensation for navigational safety and maritime services rather than direct transit tolls. The bank cited precedents in the Danish Straits and Turkey's Bosporus, where authorities levy fees for specific services while permitting transit.
Newsweek reached out to JPMorgan for comment on Saturday.
The analysts noted that while international maritime law generally prohibits charging vessels solely for passage through an international strait, it permits fees linked to services such as pilotage, safety assistance, environmental monitoring, and emergency response. The financial institution indicated that by collaborating with Oman and framing the costs as service fees, Tehran could seek to establish a mechanism aligned with international maritime principles.
Iranian officials stated that discussions with Oman are ongoing, though they emphasized that a full reopening of the strait remains linked to broader negotiations with Washington. Tehran maintains that U.S. actions, including the naval blockade, must cease before normal commercial traffic can resume.
Related Story Iran Sets Out Demands to US For Reopening Strait of Hormuz ... Iran War Latest Nearly six months after the war began on February 28, the conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran remains unresolved despite a memorandum of understanding signed in June that was intended to reduce hostilities.
The agreement included an Iranian commitment to make "best efforts" to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, but both Washington and Tehran have since accused each other of violating the deal.
Fighting has continued at a lower intensity, while negotiations over sanctions, shipping rights and regional security remain stalled.
A major sticking point is the future management of the strait. Iran has insisted that the waterway will not fully reopen until the U.S. changes its policies toward Tehran and lifts pressure measures, while the U.S. argues that freedom of navigation must be restored.
American consumers have already felt the economic impact at the pump. Trump acknowledged this week that gasoline prices have risen since the conflict began, telling Americans that those paying "a little bit more" to fuel up their cars should view it as the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Steve Mollman and Anthony Murray .
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