US President Donald Trump said the United States should be compensated for guarding the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that Washington would take on a larger security role in the strategic waterway.
His remarks came as tensions between the United States and Iran escalated following a new wave of military attacks. At the same time, diplomatic efforts continued to prevent further conflict in the region.
Trump Says the US Should Be Reimbursed
Speaking on Monday, Trump said the United States had protected the Strait of Hormuz for years without receiving compensation.
“We’ll become the guardian of the Strait,” Trump said.
He argued that the United States had been guarding the waterway “for ‘nothing'” but would now receive reimbursement from wealthy nations.
“We’re going to get paid for guarding it. A lot of money, but we just want to be reimbursed for doing all of this, for putting our people in danger.”
His comments suggested that Washington expects financial support from countries benefiting from secure shipping through the strategic maritime route.
Remarks Come Amid Renewed Regional Tensions
Trump’s statement followed a fresh exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran.
The latest military action marked one of the most significant escalations since the April ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.
As a result, concerns have grown over efforts to achieve a lasting end to the fighting.
The renewed hostilities have also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy trade routes.
Consequently, the waterway has once again become a central point of tension between Washington and Tehran.
Trump Comments on Weekend Talks
Trump also referred to recent negotiations with Iran.
According to him, officials spent several hours discussing key issues during weekend meetings.
“We’re taking over the Strait. They have nothing. They’ve got nothing,” Trump said.
He also expressed frustration over what he described as changes requested after the discussions had concluded.
“Yesterday, they had an 11-hour meeting … And everything was agreed to yesterday. And they leave the room, and they call back, and they say we had to make a couple of changes,” he added.
Trump did not explain what changes Iran had reportedly requested after the meeting.
Iran Continues Diplomatic Efforts
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said diplomatic efforts remain underway to prevent further escalation.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Tehran is holding discussions through mediators from Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman in an attempt to reduce tensions.
These diplomatic contacts continue alongside the ongoing security crisis in the Gulf region.
Strait of Hormuz Remains at the Center of the Dispute
The status of the Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of disagreement between Iran and the United States.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has stated that the Strait of Hormuz is “closed.”
However, the United States maintains that the waterway remains open to international maritime traffic and is not under Iranian control.
As tensions continue, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most closely watched strategic waterways because of its importance to global energy shipments and regional security.
