Trump threatens to annex Strait of Hormuz as US territory

Greenland, Cuba, Venezuela: The US president's occupation fantasies are inexhaustible. Now he wants to make the Strait of Hormuz US territory.

Published: August 15, 2026 | 9:49 AM

"Very evil": US President Donald Trump at his campaign rally in Garden City, New York State. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson

dpa/rtr/taz — US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory. "As soon as we have defeated Iran – which is currently suffering a devastating defeat – I will declare the Strait of Hormuz territory of the United States," he said at a campaign rally in New York State. The 80-year-old did not elaborate on his stated intention.

Iran Responds Swiftly

The mullah regime in Tehran reacted immediately and as expected. "The Strait of Hormuz belonged to Iran, belongs to Iran, and will belong to Iran," wrote Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on platform X.

Gharibabadi added that the US must accept that it has suffered a strategic and heavy defeat. The strait will only be closed and opened on orders from Tehran. As long as the US does not accept the defeat, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade.

Trump's latest occupation fantasies come at a time when efforts to end the Iran war have stalled and a 60-day ceasefire threatens to expire without extension.

Iran's Foreign Minister: "We Never Had a Ceasefire"

A central point of dispute between Washington and Tehran, besides Iran's nuclear program, remains the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices have skyrocketed as a result of the war because Iran has significantly disrupted shipping traffic in the strait with threats and attacks. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important trade routes for oil, gas, and fertilizers.

Publicly announced annexation plans like this are a staple of Trump's foreign policy. He has made similar statements regarding Venezuela, Cuba, and Greenland. Whether Trump will follow his words with actions is unclear. A month ago, Trump had already threatened to impose a toll in the strait, but he revoked the plans shortly thereafter.

In a framework agreement, Washington and Tehran agreed that Iran may not demand fees during negotiations set for 60 days. How to proceed after this period expires is to be negotiated by Iran with Oman – in compliance with international law and including the neighboring states. No agreement is known so far. The 60-day deadline expires this weekend.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized in an interview published on Saturday that his country has not yet decided whether to resume talks with the US. "We never had a ceasefire from the start that we would now want to extend," Araghchi said.

For Iran, the de facto blockade of the strait has proven to be its most effective leverage against Trump. The erratically acting US president has been struggling for weeks to find a solution to a problem that did not exist before the start of his unpopular war in the US.

The Strait of Hormuz measures only about 39 kilometers at its narrowest point. Since Iran and Oman each claim a twelve-nautical-mile zone (about 22.2 kilometers), the territorial waters of the two neighbors overlap. No international waters exist in this area. Nevertheless, before the war began, merchant ships could pass through the strait unhindered and free of fees and charges.

Trump: "Iran is Very Evil"

The US Republicans have an interest in a quick way out of the war: In just under three months, they must face the voters in the midterm elections for the US Congress – high fuel prices are not advantageous. Meanwhile, President Trump called on US citizens to prepare for continued high fuel prices.

At the campaign rally in Garden City, New York State, on Friday, he stated that it was worth paying "a little bit more for gasoline" to ensure that a "very evil country" does not possess nuclear weapons.