Trump says he views Strait of Hormuz as ‘American territory’
What Trump said
At a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, Trump said he “views the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now.” He also said the U.S. has effective control of the area because of its blockade and argued that Iran is seeking a deal with Washington.
This follows an earlier statement on August 14 in which Trump said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory after what he described as defeating Iran.
Is Hormuz actually U.S. territory?
No. Trump's statement is a political assertion, not an established change in sovereignty.
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman. The waterway is subject to international maritime law, and the United States does not simply acquire sovereignty over it by declaring it U.S. territory. Trump's administration has not publicly provided a legal mechanism for such a territorial annexation.
Why Hormuz matters so much
The strait is one of the world's most important energy chokepoints. A huge share of internationally traded oil and gas normally passes through it, meaning prolonged disruption can affect:
🛢️ Global oil prices
⛽ Fuel prices worldwide
🚢 Tanker and shipping costs
📈 Inflation
🌏 Asian and European energy supplies
Current shipping has already been severely disrupted. AP reported that confirmed vessel crossings fell sharply, while Trump continues to characterize the waterway as open and under U.S. control.
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Iran's response
Iran has rejected Trump's territorial claim outright.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the idea was a delusion that would be corrected by circumstances or by Iran. Iranian officials have also insisted that the strait cannot simply be taken over through a presidential declaration, social-media post, or military pressure.
Iran has linked reopening the waterway to U.S. commitments, including ending the blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and easing sanctions.
The bigger issue
This isn't really just about geography. Hormuz has become a bargaining chip in the U.S.–Iran war.
Trump is effectively saying:
The U.S. has military control of the waterway and intends to determine who can use it.
Iran is saying:
The U.S. has no right to claim sovereignty over the waterway, and Iran will not accept that.
That creates an extremely dangerous situation because military control, legal sovereignty and freedom of navigation are three different things.
Trump has also reiterated that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, adding another major issue to the confrontation.
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Bottom line
Trump's “American territory” remark should not be interpreted as the Strait of Hormuz legally becoming U.S. territory. It is an extraordinary political/military claim made amid an ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict and blockade. The real significance is that Washington is signaling an intention to exercise much greater control over one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
And if the U.S. actually attempted to enforce a territorial claim rather than merely using military control of shipping, the consequences for Iran, Oman, Gulf states, global shipping and oil markets could be enormous.
US President Donald Trump says he “views the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now” and claims Iran would like to reach a deal, but is not prepared to accept what he considers the right agreement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has described the latest US economic sanctions on Tehran as a “declaration of war” against all nations.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Oman and Iran held a phone call to discuss efforts to resume negotiations over a bilateral agreement governing passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli shelling and demolitions reported across southern Lebanon
Israeli forces have continued attacks in several parts of southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported heavy Israeli artillery shelling early Saturday in al-Mansouri, around Bayt al-Sayyad, and on the outskirts of Majdal Zoun.
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The NNA also reported extensive overnight demolition operations in several towns and villages, saying that “no homes remained undamaged.”
Similar demolitions were reported in Haddatha, Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal, along with machine-gun fire directed towards nearby valleys.
Separately, an Israeli air raid was reported near the Ali al-Tahir heights in southern Lebanon. Israeli drones were also reportedly flying continuously over villages and towns in the western and central sectors of the region.