US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States could assume control of the Strait of Hormuz and should be financially compensated for safeguarding one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, as Iran maintained its blockade of the strategic waterway.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Trump suggested Washington could take responsibility for securing the strait.
“We’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it. We’ll become the guardian of the strait. Maybe we’ll call it the guardian angel of the strait. And we should be reimbursed for that,” he said.
Trump argued that the United States should no longer provide maritime security without compensation from allied nations that benefit from safe passage through the waterway.
“We’re going to guard it. We’re going to get paid for guarding it, a lot of money,” he said.
“We’re going to be reimbursed, because the other nations are very wealthy. They’re on our side, and we can’t be expected to do that for nothing.”
The comments came as Iran reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed after announcing a blockade over the weekend following what it described as an unauthorised vessel transit. Tehran said shipping permits would only be issued once “stability and calm” had been restored.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports normally passes.