President Trump told reporters he supports declaring the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory, claiming U.S. control via a blockade and warning Iran it is “in big trouble.” He acknowledged Iranian forces could be disruptive — citing mines — and said the U.S. is moving “millions of barrels” of oil. The comments coincided with the expiration of a reported 60-day ceasefire and were followed by rises in oil prices; Trump also described Iran’s economy as facing about 300% inflation, a figure he attributed to Tehran.
Trump Says U.S. Could Declare Strait of Hormuz U.S. Territory — A Bold, Controversial Proposal
Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he would support declaring the Strait of Hormuz to be U.S. territory, saying the United States “controls” the waterway through a blockade and warning that Iran is “in big trouble,” Fox News reported.
What He Said: “We control it. We control it with the blockade. We have a blockade; we control it with the blockade. And I like the idea of declaring it a territory. We could do that,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. has “total control over the strait now.” He also predicted that oil prices “are coming down, and they will continue to come down.”
Trump acknowledged Iranian forces can still create problems in the waterway. “They can be a nuisance,” he said. “They can put a mine in the water. And people don't like having mines that their billion-dollar ships, you know.” He asserted that the U.S. is moving “millions of barrels” of oil through the strait despite the blockade.
Timing and Tensions: The remarks came as a reported 60-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran expired. Both governments remain at odds over Tehran’s nuclear program and control of the strategically vital passage, which is a key global shipping lane.
Claims and Context: Trump characterized Iran’s economy and military as severely weakened, saying, “Iran is in big trouble. They have 300% inflation. The country is a mess and the military is totally defeated.” These figures reflect the president’s assertions and have not been independently verified in this report. An Iranian official warned that Tehran could adopt a more offensive posture if diplomacy fails.
Market Reaction: Oil prices rose amid stalled diplomacy: U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose about 2.6% to $84.50 per barrel, while Brent crude increased roughly 2.7% to $90.87 per barrel on Monday.
Implications: Declaring an international strait to be U.S. territory would be legally unprecedented and highly controversial, likely provoking international protests and raising questions about maritime law and freedom of navigation. Such a move would carry significant geopolitical and economic consequences for global shipping and regional stability.
Reporting: The remarks were reported by Fox News and first appeared in coverage attributed to Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com and Reality Tea.
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