US-Israel-Iran War Live News: The fight over the Strait of Hormuz has taken another sharp turn, with Tehran openly challenging US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington could soon declare the strategic waterway US territory. Iran has rejected the proposal as an attempt that cannot change the status of the crucial maritime route, while tensions remain high over the ongoing blockade and stalled negotiations.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump’s remarks on Friday, insisting that Tehran does not fear US military pressure and that Iran will continue to decide when the Strait of Hormuz opens or closes. His comments came hours after Trump said he would declare the waterway a US territory after defeating Iran.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Iran Says Hormuz ‘Will Remain Iranian’
Gharibabadi directly rejected Trump’s territorial claim in a post on X.
“Trump has said that after Iran’s defeat, he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz as US territory! The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power,” Gharibabadi said.
He further insisted that Tehran would retain authority over the waterway.
ترامپ گفته بعد از شکست ایران، بزودی تنگه هرمز را قلمرو آمریکا اعلام خواهد کرد!
تنگه هرمز را نه با توییت میتوان تصاحب کرد و نه با ناو هواپیمابر، نه با صدور فرمان و نه با سخنرانی انتخاباتی. ایران نه از تهدید می هراسد و نه با نمایش قدرت مرعوب میشود. (۱)— Gharibabadi (@Gharibabadi) August 14, 2026
“Once and for all, accept the reality: up to this point, you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; 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, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade,” he added.
The comments echoed earlier Iranian statements rejecting Washington’s claims of control and reflected Tehran’s continued refusal to accept US demands over the strategic waterway.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Trump Says He Will Declare Strait US Territory
Trump made the controversial announcement at a political event in Long Island, New York, saying he would act after the war with Iran ends.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated — pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” Trump said.
The US president did not provide details on how Washington would establish such territorial control over the international waterway. His remarks nonetheless marked a major escalation in the dispute surrounding the strait.
“Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.”
President Trump floats a dramatic move involving the strategically critical waterway as he says Iran is being “very badly defeated.” pic.twitter.com/zXJhCfOIqH
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 14, 2026
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Trump Claims ‘Total Control’ Over Hormuz
Trump had already claimed earlier this week that the United States had “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz.
“The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it.”
Trump has tied the claim to the US naval blockade and the wider military campaign against Iran. Reuters reported that the president’s comments came as negotiations over reopening the waterway remained stalled.
Iran, however, has repeatedly disputed the US assertion that Washington controls the strait.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Tehran Says US Claims Cannot Reopen the Waterway
Iran’s position extends beyond Gharibabadi’s response.
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority said repeated US claims that Hormuz is no longer blocked do not alter the situation on the ground. Tehran has maintained that it will not reopen the waterway until its conditions are accepted.
The dispute has therefore created two sharply different claims: Washington says it controls the passage, while Tehran insists that Iran still decides when shipping can resume normally.
Shipping Traffic Falls as Tensions Rise
The confrontation has forced commercial operators to reconsider their routes and security arrangements.
Reports say maritime traffic has dropped sharply while ships remain under heightened security scrutiny. The US blockade and Iran’s restrictions have created an uncertain environment for operators trying to navigate the waterway.
The fall in traffic has also reinforced concerns about the wider economic impact of the conflict.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Oil Prices Rise Amid Hormuz Standoff
The latest escalation has already affected global oil markets.
Reuters reported that Brent crude rose $1.45 to $88.52 a barrel on August 14, while West Texas Intermediate climbed $1.15 to $82.40. Both benchmarks were on track for weekly gains as fears over supply disruptions intensified.
The Strait of Hormuz normally handles a significant portion of global oil flows, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for energy-importing countries.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: US-Iran Talks Remain Stalled
The dispute over Hormuz has become a major obstacle in efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Trump continues to demand pressure on Iran, while Tehran has tied the reopening of the strait to its own conditions. Recent reports indicate that Iran has not yet decided whether to resume negotiations with the United States.
The United States has also signalled that it can maintain its naval blockade for an extended period. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military could sustain the operation indefinitely.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: What Happens Next in the Hormuz Crisis?
The immediate question is whether either side will soften its position.
Trump has continued to portray the US blockade as evidence of American control, while Iran insists that the waterway remains under its authority. With negotiations stalled, shipping traffic sharply reduced and oil prices rising, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the biggest pressure points in the wider US-Iran confrontation.
For now, Tehran has made its position clear: it rejects Trump’s proposed territorial claim and says the future of the waterway will be decided on Iran’s terms.
