President Donald Trump says the United States will take on the role of “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz and ultimately control the waterway. In remarks reported Monday, Trump frames the move as protection of the strategic passage and says the U.S. could “run” the strait, including collecting payment or tolls for guarding it. Several outlets report Trump also links the statement to Iran’s actions, accusing Iran of breaking a deal.
The comments come as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate after exchanged attacks over the weekend. Multiple reports describe mutual claims of control over the strait and note that U.S.-Iran exchanges increase concerns about broader conflict and the impact on any negotiations to end their wider war.
Iran’s position, as described by one outlet, rejects U.S. control over the strait and disputes the premise that the U.S. is owed compensation. The reporting collectively portrays Trump’s statement as a new escalation in U.S. rhetoric and a possible indication of how the U.S. intends to manage or influence security in the Hormuz corridor, through further posture and rules.
