US President Donald Trump said that the United States would take control of the Strait of Hormuz, act as its protector, and receive compensation for securing the strategic waterway. In response, Iran’s Joint Armed Forces Command warned that any cooperation between regional countries and the United States would be considered an act of war against Iran.
Trump stated that the United States would control the Strait of Hormuz and should be compensated for doing so.
In a breaking statement, the US president said that the United States would likely take control of the Strait of Hormuz and should receive payment in return for safeguarding the vital maritime route.
Speaking by phone on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” program, Trump said:
“We’re taking the Strait, we’re going to keep it, and we’ll probably run it. We’ll be the protector of the Strait. Maybe we’ll call ourselves the guardian angel of the Strait. And we should be compensated for doing that.”
Trump also added:
“We hit them very hard last night. Every time they send us a drone, we hit them very hard. We had an agreement, and they broke it. They always break it.”
Iran Warns Regional Countries: “It Will Be Considered an Act of War”
Meanwhile, according to Reuters, Iran’s Joint Armed Forces Command issued a new statement warning regional leaders that:
“Any cooperation with the United States by regional countries will be regarded as participation in a war against Iran.”
What Triggered the Latest Escalation?
According to reports, the latest escalation stems from conflicting interpretations by the United States and Iran regarding how the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened under the terms of the temporary peace agreement signed on June 17.
Before the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime traffic declined after Iran began targeting vessels in the strait in early March, but shipping activity increased again following the temporary agreement reached between Washington and Tehran.