TEHRAN/NEW YORK — Iran on Saturday reaffirmed its control over the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an "Iranian" waterway, after US President Donald Trump said he would declare it US territory following a military victory over Tehran.
Trump’s remarks and Iran’s response
On Friday, Trump told a political rally in Garden City, New York, that after the US "finishes defeating Iran," he would "pretty soon" declare the strait "a territory of the United States." He added, "It’s true," and suggested the US Navy’s blockade of Iranian ports granted Washington effective control. A White House official later told the Wall Street Journal that Trump was joking, though no further clarification was issued by the administration.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian. This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command." He dismissed Trump’s declaration as a "fanciful delusion," adding that the waterway cannot be seized "by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order."
Current status of the strait and negotiations
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains heavily restricted. On Friday, only two vessels passed through the strait: a grain ship entering Iranian waters and an empty dry bulk ship exiting, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler. No crude oil shipments were recorded. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported a separate incident where a bulk carrier was struck by an "unknown projectile" in the strait on Saturday.
Iran has not resumed direct negotiations with the US, according to Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi, who told Iranian news outlet Shahrara News on Saturday that Qatar and Pakistan are acting as intermediaries but no talks are underway. Araqchi reiterated that Washington must meet conditions—including an end to sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and a halt to what Iran terms "aggression" in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq—before shipping resumes.
Economic and geopolitical implications
Global oil markets have stabilized since the war’s outbreak in late February, but prices remain elevated. US gasoline prices averaged $4.08 per gallon on Friday, up 29% from a year earlier, according to the American Automobile Association. Trump urged Americans to accept higher fuel costs, framing it as a necessary trade-off to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The 60-day negotiating period outlined in a June memorandum of understanding between Trump and Tehran ends Monday, with no progress toward a ceasefire or sanctions relief. Iran has enforced a de facto blockade of the strait since the war began, while the US maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Neither side has indicated willingness to compromise on control of the waterway, which previously handled one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil exports.
Background: The conflict’s origins and stakes
The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, citing Tehran’s nuclear program and regional influence as primary justifications. Iran retaliated by seizing control of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy flows. The war has entered a prolonged stalemate, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage despite Trump’s repeated assertions of Iran’s imminent defeat.
Analysts note that the strait’s status remains a non-negotiable red line for Tehran, which views its control as a matter of national sovereignty. Meanwhile, Trump’s declaration threat has raised questions about the legal and practical feasibility of such a move, as the strait is recognized as an international waterway under maritime law.