The Strait of Hormuz remains closed as U.S. President Donald Trump asserts it should be international waters, not controlled by any single country. This blockage has caused a global energy supply shock, with oil prices rising sharply since February 28. While Iran seeks to maintain control, Trump stated the U.S. would “watch over” the strait and warned against unilateral control.
U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed that no individual country should control the Strait of Hormuz. “Nobody’s going to control it. It’s international waters,” Trump said, adding “The strait’s going to be open to everybody.”
As debates over a possible peace deal continue, the Strait of Hormuz remains shut. A fifth of the globe’s oil supply runs through the pathway, and its closure since February 28 has created a global energy supply shock. This has sent oil and gas prices skyrocketing, with the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. surging 49%, or $1.47, to $4.46.
While Iran wants to maintain its control over the strait, Trump stated the opposite position. “We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it. That’s part of the negotiation that we have,” the President said. He added, “They would like to control it; nobody’s going to control it… or we’ll have to blow ’em up.”
Washington has attempted without much success to reopen the strait, including a brief effort involving U.S. Navy escorts. Trump is now looking for a quick off-ramp to the war, pushing Iran toward a peace agreement even as he has continued to reject Tehran’s demands. Reports that he was willing to submit control of the Strait to Iran completely have been debunked.
