Full Breakdown
Trump Plans to Declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. Territory as War with Iran Enters Its Fifth Month
8/15/2026, 8:04:46 AM
Core Event
President Donald Trump announced at a rally in Garden City, New York, that he will “soon” declare the Strait of Hormuz a United States territory after the United States “finishes defeating Iran,” which he described as “being very badly defeated.” The remarks came more than four months after the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. Trump framed the declaration as part of a broader effort to maintain a naval blockade of the strait, stating that “no ships get through unless we want them to.”
Background & Context
The February 28 war was presented by senior White House officials as an attempt to end Iran’s nuclear program and to spark regime change. Iran responded by targeting U.S. allies with drone and missile attacks and by blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments passed before the conflict.
Israeli intelligence had warned U.S. agencies that Iran was planning to assassinate President Trump, including possible sniper, knife, missile or shoulder-launched attacks during high-profile trips such as a NATO summit in Ankara. The CIA assessed “low confidence” in those warnings. The Secret Service implemented heightened protective measures, including moving Trump from Air Force One to another aircraft during a Turkey visit.
Data & Statistics
- War start date: February 28 (U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran).
- Strait of Hormuz traffic: Prior to the blockade, the waterway handled about 20 % of the world’s oil and LNG shipments.
- Energy impact: The blockade and Iranian retaliation have driven gasoline prices upward, prompting Trump to ask Americans to accept “a tiny little bit more” for fuel.
Official Statements & Responses
- President Trump reiterated his intention to annex the strait, linking the move to the ongoing military campaign and the U.S. blockade.
- Israeli embassy spokesperson rejected claims that Israel was using intelligence to steer U.S. actions.
- Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi declined to discuss specific intelligence but emphasized continuous threat analysis.
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled forthcoming unprecedented economic measures against Tehran, though details were not disclosed.
Criticism & Opposition
Policy director Ryan Costello of the National Iranian American Council mocked the president’s rhetoric, calling it “Awesome! And the Easter Bunny is real.” Critics argue that the proposed annexation is symbolic, noting that U.S. bases near the strait have been largely abandoned due to Iranian missile and drone threats.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Israeli officials asserted that Iran considered a shoulder-launched missile attack on Trump during the Ankara NATO summit, while a Turkish official reported no corroborating evidence.
- The CIA’s internal assessments labeled its confidence in the Israeli assassination warnings as “low,” and it is unclear how widely these assessments were circulated within the administration.
- The National Security Agency declined comment, leaving a gap in official verification of the Israeli intelligence.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Donald Trump
- “No ships get through unless we want them to.” — Donald Trump
- “Awesome! And the Easter Bunny is real.” — Ryan Costello, National Iranian American Council
