US President Donald Trump has said that Gulf nations benefiting from the Strait of Hormuz should compensate the United States for maintaining security in the strategic waterway. He argued that countries relying on the route for energy supplies should bear the financial burden of safeguarding one of the world’s busiest maritime trade corridors.
Speaking amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, Trump claimed that recent US military operations had severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities, saying the strikes had sent the country “back to the Stone Ages.” He also warned that the United States would continue military action if Iran posed further threats to regional stability or international shipping.
Trump stressed that the Strait of Hormuz is vital to the global economy, with a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports passing through the narrow waterway. He maintained that the United States has spent billions of dollars protecting international shipping and that Gulf nations should contribute more toward those security efforts.
The remarks came as military tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate following fresh exchanges of missile and drone attacks. The conflict has disrupted maritime traffic, pushed global oil prices higher and raised concerns about the security of energy supplies from the Gulf region.
Iran has rejected Trump’s statements and opposed any proposal that would place the Strait of Hormuz under US control. Iranian officials insist that the waterway remains under international maritime law and have criticised Washington’s military operations as a violation of regional sovereignty.
Analysts say Trump’s latest comments reflect the growing strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Iran confrontation. With diplomatic efforts under strain and military activity continuing across the Gulf, concerns remain that any further escalation could disrupt global energy markets and international trade.
