Trump escalates pressure on Iran: Declaring Hormuz US territory and imminent economic strike

US-Iran conflict: August 17 fateful truce deadline amid Hormuz crisis

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he intends to soon declare the Strait of Hormuz as US territory, while also signaling a major economic escalation against Iran, as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled over the future of the truce and navigation in the strait.

Trump said during an event in New York: “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.”

Trump’s statement represents a notable escalation in Washington’s stance on the strait, which serves as a key passage for global energy trade, and follows earlier assertions by the US president that the United States controls navigation there and has imposed a naval blockade on Iran.

The legal and political status of the strait remains a point of sharp disagreement between Washington and Tehran, with Iran rejecting any US proposal to change its status, insisting that the strait is “Iranian” and that the decision to open or close it rests with Tehran.

Imminent US economic strike

Alongside his escalation on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the United States would deliver a powerful economic blow to Iran, as Washington prepares for new measures against Tehran.

The president’s remarks came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the United States would impose economic measures on Iran that he described as “unprecedented,” with implementation possibly beginning as early as next week.

These threats come after months of intensified US sanctions on Iran, as part of a campaign targeting its funding sources, financial networks, energy sector, and maritime transport.

Trump also called on Americans to accept a limited rise in fuel prices as part of the cost of pressuring Iran and preventing it, according to him, from posing a nuclear threat.

Hormuz at the heart of negotiations

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most complex issues in talks between Washington and Tehran, as freedom of navigation there has become a fundamental issue in any arrangements to end the conflict.

Shipping through the strait has sharply declined amid tensions and navigation restrictions, while Washington remains committed to the naval blockade, with US officials affirming the United States’ readiness to continue pressure for an extended period.

In contrast, Tehran maintains its position on managing the strait and rejects US demands regarding its reopening without reaching broader arrangements covering sanctions, guarantees, and war-related files.

Maritime tensions have increased following attacks on oil tankers while crossing the strait, with the UAE accusing Iran of attacking two tankers belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), without reporting casualties.

Truce extension does not resolve differences

The escalation comes as Washington and Tehran, according to Pakistani sources, have agreed in principle to extend the ceasefire that was set to expire on August 17, while consultations continue regarding the extension period and its conditions.

Negotiation differences center on files including the future of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, frozen Iranian assets, security guarantees, and post-war arrangements.

The continued deadlock has kept the field and economic situation fragile, particularly with declining shipping through the strait and rising global oil prices. Brent crude rose to around $88.52 per barrel on Friday amid concerns over supply disruptions and continued attacks on tankers.

Tehran faces growing pressure

The Trump administration is betting on combining military and economic pressure to push Iran into making concessions in negotiations, but the ability of these pressures to produce a rapid shift in Tehran’s position remains untested.

In contrast, Iran’s leadership appears committed to linking any arrangements regarding the strait to broader files, including sanctions, frozen assets, security guarantees, and war reparations.

Developments indicate that the disagreement is no longer confined to the future of the nuclear program or halting military operations, but has extended to the political and legal status of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of energy and trade movement through it.

“Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.”

President Trump floats a dramatic move involving the strategically critical waterway as he says Iran is being “very badly defeated.” pic.twitter.com/zXJhCfOIqH

— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 14, 2026

Escalation pressures energy markets

Trump’s threat to declare Hormuz US territory adds a new dimension to the strait crisis, as Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a formula that ensures the continuation of the ceasefire and restores navigation to more stable levels.

While Washington raises the ceiling of political, economic, and military pressure, Tehran maintains its positions on the strait and settlement terms, keeping negotiations facing a difficult test and increasing risks to energy markets and global trade.

Source: RT + swissinfo + Politico

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