Trump threatens to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory
Trump threatens to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory as President Donald Trump escalates his rhetoric towards Tehran while the strategically important waterway remains at the centre of the wider US-Iran conflict.
Trump said on Friday that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, adding that the United States effectively already controls the waterway through its naval blockade. The comments came as tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran and negotiations aimed at ending the war have stalled.
The statement has immediately raised questions about whether a US president has the authority to unilaterally change the legal status of an international waterway.
Iran has rejected Trump’s remarks, while maritime and legal experts have stressed that control of a strategically important shipping route is not the same thing as sovereignty over territory.
Donald Trump escalates Strait of Hormuz rhetoric
Donald Trump made the declaration during a speech in New York, saying that after the United States defeats Iran, he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.
He also suggested that the waterway was effectively already under American control because of the naval blockade.
The remarks represent a significant escalation in the political rhetoric surrounding the strait, which is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.
The waterway lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Large volumes of oil and liquefied natural gas traditionally pass through the route, meaning prolonged disruption can have consequences for global energy prices and shipping. Reuters reported that maritime traffic has fallen sharply amid the current confrontation.
Trump’s latest comments come after he previously asserted that the United States had “total control” of the waterway.
That claim was rejected by Tehran, which has continued to assert that Iran controls the strait.
Iran rejects Trump’s territorial claim
The latest comments have been met with strong criticism from Iranian officials.
Tehran has dismissed the claim that Washington can simply take possession of the strait through a presidential declaration.
Iran has continued to insist that the waterway remains under its control and has linked the reopening of commercial shipping to wider demands involving US sanctions and the naval blockade.
The dispute is taking place against the backdrop of a much broader confrontation.
The United States has maintained a naval blockade around Iranian ports and has threatened to increase economic pressure on Tehran. The Pentagon has also said the US Navy can maintain the blockade indefinitely by rotating ships and personnel in the region.
Iran has meanwhile maintained pressure on maritime traffic, while officials in Tehran have been holding discussions with Oman about the management of shipping through the strait.
The competing claims have created uncertainty for commercial operators and increased the risks facing vessels attempting to transit the waterway.
US Iran conflict raises stakes
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz is now closely linked to the broader US Iran conflict.
The war has affected shipping, energy supplies, fuel prices and diplomatic relations across the Middle East.
Reuters reported that oil prices rose after further tanker attacks were reported in the strait, with Brent and West Texas Intermediate futures posting weekly gains.
The US has also warned that it can maintain its blockade indefinitely while promising tougher sanctions against Iran.
That combination of military and economic pressure has increased the importance of the strait in negotiations.
For Washington, maintaining freedom of navigation and limiting Iran’s ability to use the waterway as leverage are major strategic objectives.
For Tehran, control of the shipping route provides an important source of leverage in negotiations with the United States.
This creates a situation in which even statements about the legal status of the strait can have immediate geopolitical and economic consequences.
Can the US legally annex the Strait of Hormuz?
The question of international law is central to Trump’s proposal.
A president cannot simply change the ownership of another country’s territory by making a public declaration.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow international maritime passage situated between Iran and Oman. The waterway is not equivalent to an ordinary piece of territory that one government can simply annex.
International maritime law, including principles reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, distinguishes between territorial seas and international straits.
Coastal states have sovereignty over territorial waters extending up to 12 nautical miles under widely recognised maritime-law principles, but international straits also involve important navigation rights.
The United States and Iran are not parties to UNCLOS, but many of its navigation principles are widely regarded as reflecting customary international law.
Legal experts cited in reporting on Trump’s comments therefore question whether the president could create US sovereignty over the strait without a major legal and political process.
The distinction is important because military control is not necessarily the same as legal sovereignty.
A country can exercise substantial military influence over a waterway without becoming the lawful owner of the territory through which that waterway passes.
What would US control actually mean?
The phrase “US territory” could have very different implications from the current US military presence.
If the United States genuinely attempted to claim sovereignty, it would represent a dramatic departure from the current international order.
Such a move would raise questions about borders, jurisdiction, maritime rights, international agreements and the sovereignty of Iran and Oman.
It could also provoke a major international response.
The current US position is primarily about military control, naval operations and freedom of navigation.
Washington already has substantial military forces in the region and has demonstrated its willingness to use naval power to enforce its policies.
But transforming that military presence into a territorial claim would be an entirely different proposition.
Iran tensions threaten global shipping
The growing Iran tensions surrounding Hormuz are already affecting commercial shipping.
Reuters reported that traffic through the strait has dropped well below normal levels as US and Iranian forces maintain competing positions over the waterway.
The reduction in shipping has implications for global energy markets because the strait has historically handled a substantial share of international oil and gas shipments.
Further attacks on tankers or a prolonged closure could increase insurance costs and force ships to seek longer alternative routes where those are available.
That could place additional pressure on fuel prices at a time when American households are already facing higher petrol costs.
Trump himself has acknowledged the political pressure created by rising gasoline prices while continuing to argue that confronting Iran is necessary.
Why the statement matters politically
Trump’s proposal can also be interpreted as political messaging aimed at both domestic and international audiences.
The president has repeatedly used strong language when discussing Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
Supporters may see the rhetoric as demonstrating US strength and determination.
Critics may view it as deliberately provocative, especially because the legal basis for unilateral annexation is unclear.
The statement also comes at a time when the Trump administration is under pressure to show progress in the war while avoiding an even wider regional conflict.
The United States has indicated that economic pressure may become an increasingly important part of its strategy, while officials continue to keep military options available.
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What happens next?
For now, Trump’s statement does not itself change the legal status of the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway remains a strategically contested maritime passage between Iran and Oman, while the United States continues to use military power to influence shipping through the region.
Any genuine attempt to claim sovereignty would require far more than a presidential announcement and would create enormous diplomatic, legal and military consequences.
The immediate issue is therefore less about whether Washington can simply “own” the strait and more about how far the United States and Iran are prepared to go in their struggle for control and leverage.
Trump threatens to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, but the statement has so far remained a political declaration rather than a recognised transfer of sovereignty.
With shipping disrupted, oil markets under pressure and ceasefire efforts struggling, the world’s attention will remain focused on whether the rhetoric around Hormuz turns into further military escalation or ultimately becomes leverage for a diplomatic settlement.
Mainstream media references
- Reuters – Trump says he will soon declare Strait of Hormuz a US territory
Read the Reuters report - Al Jazeera – Trump threatens to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory: Can he?
Read the Al Jazeera report - The Guardian – Trump threatens to declare Strait of Hormuz US territory
Read The Guardian report - Reuters – Trump says US has ‘total control’ over Strait of Hormuz
Read the Reuters report
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