Trump Asserts US Could Seize Control of Strait of Hormuz, Demand Security Fees

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States is prepared to take over the management of the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that Washington should be heavily compensated by wealthy nations for securing the vital global energy route.

Speaking during a telephone interview on Monday, President Trump asserted that the US would step in to protect the waterway amid escalating military tensions with Iran. He proposed that the US assume a permanent security role over the shipping lane and receive substantial reimbursement from the international partners who benefit from its stability.

The statement follows Iran’s decision over the weekend to suspend maritime traffic through the critical channel, citing unauthorized transits. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have maintained that shipping will remain halted until the United States ceases its military operations in the area, warning that ongoing interference risks deeper disruption to the global oil and gas markets.

The standoff has intensified following a series of weekend missile and drone exchanges between American and Iranian forces in the Gulf. This latest surge in hostility has effectively derailed an interim agreement brokered last month, which aimed to keep the shipping lanes open while bilateral negotiations continued. President Trump accused Tehran of violating previous diplomatic understandings, stating that the breakdown of those agreements would prompt a severe military response.