Trump Claims Hormuz Strait Will Become US Territory Following Iran Conflict

Following recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, the strategic status of the Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran. Trump stated he intends to declare the waterway U.S. territory after defeating Iran, a claim Tehran has dismissed as an “illusion” while maintaining its current blockade of the passage.

The Rhetoric of Territorial Control

The geopolitical temperature in the Persian Gulf spiked late this week following a campaign event in Garden City, New York. President Trump suggested that, upon the conclusion of the conflict, he would designate the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory. While the statement drew immediate international attention, reports from the Associated Press and The Washington Times indicate the remark was delivered in a lighthearted tone, raising questions about whether it represents a formal policy shift or campaign-trail hyperbole.

Tehran’s response was swift and uncompromising. Kázem Gharíbabádí, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, took to social media to reiterate that the strait remains firmly under Iranian control. “The Strait of Hormuz was Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Gharíbabádí wrote, emphasizing that Iran alone holds the authority to regulate traffic through the choke point. He further signaled that the existing blockade—which has persisted since the onset of U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February—will continue until the “reality of defeat” is acknowledged by Western powers.

Stakes for Global Energy and Supply Chains

The Strait of Hormuz is more than a regional waterway; it is a critical artery for the global economy. The current, semi-permanent state of “blocked” navigation has already exerted significant upward pressure on global fuel prices.

Photo: novinky.cz

Here is why that matters: When energy transit becomes a tool of war, the global supply chain loses its predictability. Unlike previous crises where diplomatic channels could secure “safe passage” corridors, the current lack of a formal breakthrough leaves commercial vessels in a state of indefinite limbo. According to reports from the Iranian foreign ministry, while Doha and Islamabad are facilitating a back-channel exchange of messages, no formal negotiations have commenced to restore maritime security.

Metric	Status/Context
Conflict Trigger	U.S.-Israeli strikes initiated late February 2026
Strait Status	De facto blockade by Iran since March 2026
Current Diplomatic Track	Informal message exchange via Qatar and Pakistan
Primary Dispute	Sovereignty vs. International transit rights

The “Islamic NATO” and Shifting Regional Alliances

The hardening of positions in the Gulf has triggered a re-alignment among regional powers. Earlier this month, reports highlighted the emergence of an informal security bloc involving Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. This grouping—sometimes referred to in diplomatic circles as “Islamic NATO”—reflects a growing consensus that the vacuum created by U.S.-Iran hostilities requires a regional response that neither fully aligns with Washington nor submits to Tehran’s regional ambitions.

Photo: zahranicni.hn.cz

But there is a catch. While these nations are coordinating to insulate their economies from the chaos, they are also navigating a volatile domestic landscape. The U.S. administration is simultaneously testing the loyalty of its NATO allies, demanding a more unified front against Iranian influence. However, European capitals remain hesitant to fully endorse a strategy that risks a permanent rupture in energy supplies during an already fragile economic recovery.

Expert Perspectives on Strategic Choke Points

As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on the viability of the current blockade. With Iran actively negotiating with Oman regarding potential transit fees, the intent is clear: Tehran is attempting to institutionalize its control over the strait as a source of revenue and leverage. For global investors and policymakers, the message is that the “status quo” of free navigation is currently suspended, and the path to restoring it remains obscured by rhetoric and conflicting territorial claims.

The coming weeks will likely determine whether the current back-channel messaging via Qatar and Pakistan can evolve into a formal ceasefire or if the “Hormuz impasse” will harden into a permanent feature of the 2026 global security architecture. How do you see the global market reacting if this blockade extends into the winter months?