President Donald Trump on Monday hinted at assuming control of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that the United States should be compensated for securing the strategically important shipping route.
Speaking in an interview, he said the US would continue to oversee the waterway and suggested it would serve as its “guardian.”
“We’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it,” Trump said, adding that the US could become the “guardian” or even the “guardian angel” of the vital maritime passage.
He also insisted that the US should receive substantial financial compensation for providing security in the region.
“We’re going to guard it. We’re going to get paid for guarding it — a lot of money,” Trump said, arguing that wealthy allied nations benefiting from the safe passage of ships should help cover the cost instead of expecting the US to shoulder the burden alone.
Meanwhile, Iran rejected any suggestion of US involvement in managing the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement issued on Monday, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s top joint military command, said Tehran would not permit Washington to intervene in the administration of the strategic waterway.
The statement, carried by Iranian state media, warned that any attempt by US forces to regulate maritime traffic through the strait outside routes designated by Iran or without coordination with the country’s armed forces would be met with a firm response.
