Trump Vows to Claim 1 Strait as U.S. Territory Amid Iran War
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 14
Trump Vows to Claim 1 Strait as U.S. Territory Amid Iran War
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 14
Summary
New York remarks on Aug. 14 put Trump on record saying he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz "a territory of the United States" after defeating Iran.
Trump tied that claim to what he described as a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, saying "no ships get through" and arguing the move has wrecked Tehran's economy.
Iran rejected that characterization, saying the international waterway remains under its complete management and control and that commercial ships cannot pass without its permission.
The threat sharpens a standoff over a chokepoint vital to Iran's oil exports and global energy flows, with the strait already central to the wider war and stalled peace talks.
Will the unprecedented US move to claim the Strait of Hormuz spark a catastrophic energy crisis once emergency oil reserves dry up?
How can commercial shipping survive when two rival military powers simultaneously claim absolute control over the world's most vital oil chokepoint?
The 2026 U.S.-Iran War and the Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Global Economic Shockwaves, Legal Crisis, and the Battle for Control
Overview
The U.S.-Iran war erupted after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader, prompting Iran to restrict the Strait of Hormuz and triggering a strict U.S. naval blockade. This closure caused the largest energy supply shock in history, sending oil prices soaring and fueling global inflation. As energy and food costs rose, major oil companies saw record profits, while some nations reverted to coal due to LNG shortages. The crisis fractured Gulf alliances, with the UAE pivoting toward the U.S. and leaving OPEC, weakening Arab oil bargaining power. Meanwhile, Saudi oil rerouting through the Red Sea led to Houthi attacks, further disrupting global trade.