Trump's declaration and the standoff

US President Donald Trump has again described the Strait of Hormuz as "an American territory," insisting that Washington has "total control" of the region "well into it, the land areas." Speaking at a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on August 21, Trump said Iran "would love to make a deal, but they’re not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion." He also warned: "We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon; we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, or you will see some very bad things."

The comments follow a series of statements and social media posts in which Trump shared a map of the strait labelled "News U.S. Territory. Strait of Hormuz." At an event on Long Island on August 14, he said he would "pretty soon" declare the waterway a US territory. He reiterated the claim on August 18 and again on Friday, saying: "We don’t even know if we won, because I view the strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now."

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and gas passes, has been at the centre of a tense standoff. Iran has blocked the passage, while the US maintains a naval blockade against Iranian ports. The war between the two countries began on February 28, and a 60-day negotiation period ended on August 17, according to reports. A memorandum of understanding signed in June expires on Sunday.

Iran's response

Iran has reacted sharply to Trump's claims. The country's Supreme National Security Council secretary, Mohsen Rezaei, wrote on X: "The gap between America's inability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and its claim to own it is greater than the 7,000-mile distance between Washington and the Strait itself. Welcome to the post-American order in the Persian Gulf."

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said: "The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command."

Iranian officials have also blamed the US for the instability. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of causing a "return to violence" in the strait, while foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said: "Keep in mind that insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz was imposed on us, on the region and on the entire world, and the reason for it was the illegal military action of the United States." Baghaei added that complete security would only be restored once the US lifts sanctions and the naval blockade.

Iran's head of judiciary reportedly called Trump "criminal" and "feather-headed," and dismissed his remarks as "nonsense."

Can the US legally annex the strait?

International law experts say Trump's claim has no basis in law. Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal states have sovereignty over territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles, and ships have a right of passage that "shall not be impeded." The Strait of Hormuz lies in international waters, with the territorial seas of Iran and Oman overlapping. Neither the US nor Iran has ratified UNCLOS, but its rules on straits are considered customary international law.

Bruce Fein, a former associate deputy attorney general under President Reagan, said a treaty ratified by the Senate or a statute is constitutionally required to annex territory. Unilateral annexation, he said, would "constitute the crime of aggressive war under international law."

Natalie Klein, an international law specialist, said Trump's claim could only have plausibility if the US were asserting control as an occupying power, which would require military control over Iran or its coastal areas.

Paul Musgrave, a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, said Trump's statements are "meant for a US audience" and that he is a "showman." Musgrave added: "You have to take him seriously in some cases but not literally." He called the idea of making the strait US territory "physically and legally impossible," but said it shows Trump is "determined not to back down."

Al Jazeera's Kimberly Halkett reported from Washington that Trump is "not taking this particularly seriously" and noted that the strait is "territorial waters of Iran and Oman."

Broader conflict and economic pressure

The US has initiated what it calls "Economic D-Day," warning of secondary sanctions on any country allowing Iran access to banks, business networks, or airports. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed that the naval blockade has brought Iranian crude exports to a near-total halt, with US forces intercepting, redirecting, or boarding dozens of commercial vessels.

Iran has declared the diplomatic window dead and categorised the sanctions and blockade as a "declaration of war" on global sovereignty. Iranian Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia said the military posture has shifted from defensive to offensive. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a list of demands for reopening the strait, including lifting the blockade, removing sanctions, paying war reparations, unfreezing assets, withdrawing US forces, and ending military operations and threats against Iran and its allies.

Iran has also been holding talks with Oman over maritime traffic management. Foreign Minister Araghchi said negotiations between Tehran and Muscat "may reach a conclusion soon," but reopening the waterway, he said, requires Washington to adhere to promises in the June memorandum, including removal of the naval blockade and sanctions. Reports suggest Iran is seeking a 5% to 7% cargo transit fee on commercial shipments through the strait.

Trump has threatened to bomb Oman, a US ally, saying in a Fox News interview: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the sh** out of them." Oman has not responded publicly.

Domestic and international reactions

The war is unpopular at home. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 35% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of the conflict. US media reports say Washington is running short on munitions, including Patriot interceptor missiles. Petrol prices have risen above $4 a gallon. Vice President JD Vance said the administration's top priority in the war is controlling petrol prices, with stopping Iran's nuclear programme now second.

Analysts say Iran has attacked its neighbours in the Gulf to force regional countries to push Washington to de-escalate. China, which gets 50% of its energy from the Gulf according to Treasury Secretary Bessent, has continued supporting Iran through oil imports and technology. Bessent said Washington will impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran and urged Beijing to cooperate.

Trump has also threatened to send US troops to Iran's Kharg Island; Tehran responded that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would be waiting with "fingers on the trigger."

In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon... These maniacs are on the ropes, and these historic measures will cripple them and their ability to project terror worldwide."

What's next?

The standoff shows no sign of resolution. Trump continues to assert US control over the strait, while Iran insists it will remain under Iranian command. Experts say the deadlock could persist, with both sides unwilling to back down. The expiration of the June memorandum on Sunday adds another deadline to a conflict that has already defied multiple negotiation attempts.