Published: 12:58 AM, 16 August 2026
Trump says he plans to declare Strait of Hormuz US 'territory'
President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States would seek to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US "territory" after the war with Iran ends, adding a new territorial claim to the conflict over the strategically important waterway. Speaking to law enforcement officials in New York during a campaign trip ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections, Trump said Iran was "being very badly defeated" and that the United States would officially claim the strait after the conflict, says Al Jazeera.
The United States and Israel have been at war with Iran since 28 February, with Trump repeatedly saying the conflict is nearing victory. There is, however, no clear end to the war.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is a critical route for global energy trade. Before the current conflict, about 20% of the world's oil supply passed through the waterway, along with significant volumes of natural gas and fertiliser.
US blockade and Iranian response
The United States has established what Trump has called an "unstoppable... wall of steel" blockade in the strait. US forces recently fired on a cargo vessel that Washington accused of attempting to reach Iranian ports.
Iran has responded by restricting maritime traffic and targeting commercial vessels. Tehran has also asserted that parts of the strait fall within Iranian territorial waters.
Trump has previously proposed that the United States act as the "guardian" of the waterway and collect a 20% fee on products passing through it.
Legal experts have said such tolls would violate international law, which protects the right of commercial vessels to transit international waterways.
Any US attempt to claim the strait as US territory would also face significant legal and diplomatic challenges, given the waterway's location between Iran and Oman and its importance to international shipping.
Iran rejects Trump's claim
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed Trump's remarks, saying the strait could not be taken over by "a tweet," "an aircraft carrier," or an "election speech".
Trump's proposal is consistent with his broader calls for US territorial expansion. In his 2025 inaugural address, he described the United States as a "growing nation" and has previously pressed countries including Canada and Greenland over sovereignty and territorial issues.
The war has also faced opposition at home. A July 2026 poll found that 60% of US voters opposed military action against Iran.
Reports that US munitions stockpiles are under strain could further constrain Washington's ability to intensify military operations, adding pressure on the administration as the conflict continues.
Trump's comments came during a campaign trip aimed at supporting Republican candidates in the November midterm elections, in which control of Congress is at stake.
