New York, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has said the United States will take over the Strait of Hormuz as US territory “pretty soon” after defeating Iran, escalating his rhetoric over the strategically vital waterway through which a major share of global oil and gas supplies passes.
Speaking at a police academy in a New York suburb on Friday, Trump said the US had effectively taken control of the strait through its blockade of Iran.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon, I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” he said.
Trump claimed the waterway had already become “a virtual US territory”, saying, “We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to.” He said US actions in the strait represented “a great service for the world, not only for ourselves”.
Trump had also suggested such an intention in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, writing that the US had “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and indicating that he believed Washington might retain it.
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed amid the conflict between the US and Iran. Trump had said on August 3 that the waterway would be “open literally” the following day, but reports indicated that only nine ships passed through on Friday as the standoff continued. Washington has maintained a blockade, while Iran has attacked ships, reportedly striking two vessels on Thursday.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed Trump’s territorial claim as “fantasies”. He said the strait would be opened or closed only under Iran’s command and accused Washington of refusing to accept what he described as its defeat.
Trump’s remarks also came as rising fuel prices have emerged as a political issue ahead of the November midterm elections. Democrats have made what they describe as an “affordability crisis” a central campaign theme.
Defending the increase in petrol prices resulting from the Iran war, which he said began with US and Israeli action on February 28, Trump told the audience that Americans had to bear some additional fuel costs to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The average US petrol price on Friday stood at $1.08 per litre, while Brent crude rose to around $88 a barrel, gaining about five per cent over the week.
Trump’s proposal to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory would face significant legal and practical obstacles. The approximately 170-km-long strait encompasses territorial waters belonging to Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, along with international waterways. Any attempt to incorporate the entire waterway into US territory would require agreements with Oman and the UAE, disregard established international law and involve military control over Iranian coastal waters.
Questions have also been raised over the sustainability of the US military presence in the region. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, the only US carrier of its capability currently in the region, has been deployed for almost nine months. Trump rejected concerns about the length of its deployment, saying it was “not nearly long enough”, while adding that another similar ship would replace it.
Trump has previously made proposals and threats aimed at expanding US territory. After returning to office for his second term, he repeatedly suggested that Canada could become the 51st US state and referred to former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor”. He had also proposed purchasing Greenland from Denmark during his first term and renewed threats to annex the territory earlier this year.
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