Post by Ibadan Watch (@Ibadanwatch)
US, Iran Clash Over Strait of Hormuz as Trump Declares America Will ‘Take Over’ Waterway.
Tensions between the US and Iran rose after Trump claimed the Washington would "take over" the Strait of Hormuz and charge fees for protecting it.
Trump told Fox that the US would be the "guardian" of the crucial waterway, asserting Iran no longer controlled it, which is vital for global oil and gas exports.
"We're taking over the Strait. They have nothing," he said, mentioning the US would be paid for security.
Iran rejected this, with a military official warning that Tehran would never allow US interference and threatening to see Gulf nations' cooperation with Washington as an act of war.
The latest exchange comes amid renewed hostilities between the two countries, despite an April ceasefire that had temporarily halted months of intense fighting.
On Monday, the US military announced strikes on dozens of targets inside Iran, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards responded with fresh attacks targeting US military facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint in the conflict. Before the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran earlier this year, commercial vessels passed freely through the waterway.
However, Tehran later declared the strait closed, describing it as a key source of leverage against Washington, while the United States insists international shipping remains open and that Iran has no authority to control access.
Although Trump said the ceasefire was over, he claimed diplomacy continued, citing talks on Sunday with Iranian negotiators, who he accused of backtracking. Iran's Foreign Ministry acknowledged a crisis in the June understanding, warning it might suspend obligations if the US doesn't honor commitments.
Tehran seeks to prevent escalation through mediators from Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman. Iran accused the US of undermining stability, saying recent military actions increased insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz and threatened peace efforts.
Meanwhile, fighting continued across the Gulf region. Iranian state media reported casualties from the latest US strikes, while Iran claimed responsibility for attacks on US military installations in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. Air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain, Kuwait reported intercepting hostile aerial targets, and Jordan said its air defence systems destroyed several Iranian missiles.
Bahrain accused Iran of launching missile and drone attacks against civilian areas, describing them as "heinous attacks," while insisting its military had intercepted multiple incoming projectiles.
Despite the renewed violence, analysts believe diplomacy remains the only realistic path forward. According to Middle East analyst Bader Al-Saif, both Washington and Tehran are attempting to negotiate from positions of strength, a strategy that is prolonging the conflict but is ultimately likely to end in a negotiated settlement.
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