WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the United States will likely take control of the Strait of Hormuz and will demand financial compensation for its protection. In an interview with Fox & Friends, he said that the U.S. would become a "guardian" or even a "protector" of this important waterway. "We will guard the strait, and we will get paid – a lot of money," he said, adding that wealthy allied countries cannot expect free American protection.
Trump has not yet specified who exactly should pay the United States, how the compensation would be calculated, or whether it would involve contributions from individual states, shipping fees, or some other mechanism. The president mentioned a similar possibility on June 20, when he stated that passage would remain free unless the United States itself imposed payments in the event of failed peace negotiations.
The dispute over Hormuz has intensified following a weekend exchange of attacks between U.S. and Iranian forces. Tehran announced the suspension of shipping due to what it claimed was unauthorized passage, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that normal operations could only resume after the end of U.S. military intervention. Washington, on the other hand, claims that Iran does not control the international waterway and that U.S. forces will protect freedom of navigation.
Iran claims it has the right to manage traffic in the strait and potentially collect fees under a June interim agreement. The United States and its allies reject this interpretation. Tehran is also proposing a joint mechanism for managing shipping with Oman, but negotiations are being complicated by U.S. pressure.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced attacks on Iranian air defenses, coastal radars, missile and drone capabilities, and small vessels. According to U.S. officials, approximately twenty ships transited the strait during the previous 24 hours. However, data from MarineTraffic showed that ship activity between July 10th and July 12th decreased by about 52 percent compared to the previous week.
The heightened tensions immediately impacted energy prices. Brent crude oil rose by more than three percent on Monday as markets feared further disruptions to supply. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy routes. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), approximately 20 million barrels of oil flowed through it in 2024, representing roughly a fifth of global liquid fuel consumption. Approximately a fifth of global trade in liquefied natural gas also passes through this route.
Trump's new statement comes at a time when the June interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran is effectively collapsing. This agreement was intended to reopen the strait, reduce fighting, and create space for 60 days of negotiations. Both sides are now accusing each other of violating it, and control over Hormuz has become one of the main points of conflict.