Donald Trump Threatens to Declare Strait of Hormuz ‘US Territory’ Amid Ongoing Conflict with Iran

A Territorial Claim at the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump has threatened to designate the Strait of Hormuz as United States territory, escalating a months-long military confrontation that has seen the U.S. enforce a blockade of Iranian ports and shipping lanes. The declaration, made during a speech at a police academy on Long Island on Friday, follows a series of increasingly aggressive warnings from the White House regarding the vital oil-shipping chokepoint.

Retaliatory Strikes and the Threat of Destruction

The administration’s rhetoric has shifted between assertions that a peace deal is near and promises of military retaliation. On Wednesday, Trump stated via Truth Social that the U.S. would destroy an Iranian power plant or bridge—specifically citing targets in or near Tehran—for every instance in which Iranian forces fire upon vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

This policy of direct retaliation was announced shortly after the deaths of three American service members, whose remains were scheduled to be received by the president. According to CNBC, U.S. Central Command has continued to conduct strikes against Iranian drone storage, logistics infrastructure, and military operations centers for 11 nights.

Tehran’s Counter-Threats and Maritime Standoff

The Iranian government has dismissed the threats. An unnamed military source told the Tasnim News Agency that Iran would respond to any U.S. strike on its infrastructure by targeting American-linked energy facilities and bridges across the region. Iranian officials have maintained that transit through the Strait of Hormuz will only be permitted under Iranian authorization and coordination.

Diplomatic Friction and Competing Demands

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in the Philippines at an ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, characterized the conflict as a defense of international navigation rights. Rubio warned that allowing a nation-state to control an international waterway and charge tolls under threat of force would set a “very dangerous precedent.” While reiterating that the U.S. remains open to a diplomatic settlement, Rubio stated that such an agreement would require Iran to cease support for terrorism and abandon its nuclear weapons program.

The diplomatic impasse persists as Tehran remains firm in its conditions for reopening the strait. According to reporting by The Guardian, Iranian officials have demanded that the U.S. compensate the country for war damages, lift all sanctions, and release frozen assets before any normalization of maritime traffic can occur.

Stalemate in Negotiations

Despite the blockade and the ongoing military campaign, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated in an interview with Shahrara News that Iran has not decided to resume direct negotiations with Washington. While messages have been exchanged through intermediaries in Qatar and Pakistan, the Iranian government maintains that these communications do not constitute formal peace talks.

Photo: theguardian.com

Trump, meanwhile, has defended the economic impact of the conflict, acknowledging that Americans are paying higher fuel prices. During his Long Island address, he stated that the costs were necessary to prevent a “very evil country” from obtaining nuclear capabilities. He reiterated his claim of “total control” over the strait, suggesting that the U.S. intends to maintain its blockade indefinitely. As of late Friday, there has been no formal change to the status of the waterway, and Iranian officials continue to assert their authority over the region.