U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States could assume control of the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting Washington should be compensated for safeguarding one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
Speaking in a phone interview with Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”, Trump said the U.S. could potentially oversee the vital waterway, describing the country as a possible “guardian” of the strait.
“We will control the strait, or perhaps manage it. We will become its protector, and we should be compensated for doing so,” Trump said.
Trump Criticizes Iran Over Previous Agreement
During the interview, Trump also referred to the memorandum of understanding reached with Iran, accusing Tehran of failing to uphold its commitments.
“We had an agreement, and they broke it,” the U.S. president said, without providing further details.
Iran Seeks Joint Security Framework with Oman
Earlier on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran is working with Oman to establish a joint mechanism for securing the Strait of Hormuz, while accusing U.S. pressure of complicating those efforts.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Iran would not fulfill its obligations under the memorandum of understanding with Washington unless the United States also honored its commitments.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, handling a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports, making its security a key concern for international energy markets and global trade.
