Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in a Fox News interview that the United States is taking control of the Strait of Hormuz — a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea — and will require payment for safeguarding it. He linked the move directly to Iran and global oil markets.
‘We Will Become the Guardian of the Strait’
Trump stated that Iran had violated an agreement previously reached with the United States. He asserted that the U.S. would now assume the role of ‘guardian’ of the strait, adding, ‘We will be reimbursed for it.’ In a tweet cited by Clash Report on July 13, 2026, he said: ‘We guarded the strait for 50 years, and we never got paid for it. We guarded it for nothing, but now we will…’
Escalating Rhetoric Against Iran
Trump intensified his criticism of Iran’s leadership, calling them ‘a bad group of people.’ He claimed Iran is ‘getting beaten’ in its confrontation with the U.S., citing severe degradation of Iranian military capabilities — including its navy, air force, and missile arsenal — which he described as ‘almost completely destroyed.’
He also referenced the deaths of Iranian leaders during the ongoing conflict, portraying U.S. operations as delivering a major blow to Tehran. His remarks come amid continued U.S. strikes against Iranian targets, following his declaration that the ceasefire with Iran ‘is over.’ Tensions between the two countries remain at a high level.