Trump says he will soon declare Strait of Hormuz US territory
The US president claims Iran is being “defeated very badly”
US President Donald Trump has said that he will “soon” declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory, in a statement that further escalates tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Trump sobre Irán: “Muy pronto, declararé el Estrecho de Ormuz un territorio de los Estados Unidos”. pic.twitter.com/Wqu69xfZtT
— Wall Street Wolverine (@wallstwolverine) August 14, 2026
“Very soon I’ll declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory. It’s true", Trump said on Friday during a political rally at a police academy in New York state. The president linked the potential move to the ongoing conflict with Iran, saying it would happen “after we finish defeating Iran”, which he claimed was being “defeated very badly”.
Iran rejects Trump’s threats
Tehran has immediately rejected the US president’s claims. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, dismissed the possibility that the Strait of Hormuz could be taken over by the United States.
“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be conquered with a tweet or aircraft carriers, nor through the issuance of an order or an electoral speech,” the Iranian diplomat said in a post on X.
Gharibabadi insisted that Iran “is not intimidated by threats” and stated that the strategic waterway “has been, is and will remain Iranian”.
He also warned that the Strait of Hormuz “will only be closed and opened under Iran’s orders”, further reinforcing Tehran’s position over control of the passage.
A strategic route for global trade
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways for energy transportation. Its control has become a central issue in the confrontation between the United States and Iran, particularly after Tehran established de facto control over large parts of the strait.
The United States, meanwhile, has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to put further pressure on the country’s economy. Trump defended the policy during his speech, claiming that “no ship gets through unless we want it to”.
The latest statements come after Iran claimed that it had Trump “cornered” in the Strait of Hormuz, amid a sharp escalation in military and economic tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Oil prices rise amid tensions
The escalation has also affected international energy markets. Brent crude, the European benchmark, rose 1.67% on Friday to $88.52 a barrel, amid growing concerns over the potential impact of a prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz on global energy supplies.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark, also increased 1.42%, reaching $82.40 a barrel.
Trump’s comments came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Tehran of a combination of “unprecedented economic isolation” and the continuation of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which could prevent goods from entering and leaving Iranian ports.