'We Will Run the Strait of Hormuz': Donald Trump Vows US Will 'Make Money' From Key Waterway (Watch)

Military forces from the United States and Iran exchanged a series of heavy missile and drone strikes over the weekend and into Monday, pushing a month-old interim ceasefire to the brink of collapse. The latest flare-up centers on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical international waterway for global energy supplies, with both Washington and Tehran issuing conflicting claims over its operational control.

The escalation peaked after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted and disabled a Cypriot-flagged container ship, the GFS Galaxy, in the strait on Saturday, claiming the vessel was using an unauthorized route. In response, US Central Command (CENTCOM) launched a massive wave of retaliatory airstrikes, hitting roughly 140 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems, coastal radar sites, and drone facilities. Iran Denies Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Even as US Claims Freedom of Navigation.

Following the American strikes, Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks across the region on Monday, targeting US military infrastructure and allied Arab nations. The IRGC claimed responsibility for strikes against facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, radar systems in Oman, and an airbase in Jordan. Jordan’s military confirmed its air defense systems intercepted and shot down four Iranian missiles, reporting no casualties.

Tehran has formally declared the Strait of Hormuz closed "until further notice," demanding an end to US interference in the region. However, US officials quickly dismissed the claim. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's assertion of authority over the waterway, stating that US forces are keeping the maritime corridor open by force.

"It's open. We bombed the hell out of them last night," Trump said, adding that the two nations had been hours away from a comprehensive deal in Oman before the container ship was attacked. CENTCOM reinforced this stance in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, affirming that traffic continues to flow through the strait at reduced levels and that "Iran does not control it." US Launches Fresh Strikes on Iran After IRGC Ship Attack, Strait of Hormuz Shut.

'We Will Run the Strait of Hormuz'

The current conflict trace back to a mid-June memorandum of understanding, which established a 60-day interim ceasefire to facilitate diplomatic talks regarding Iran's nuclear program and economic sanctions. Tensions began unraveling last week when Iran demanded the right to regulate and charge transit fees for ships passing through the strait—a position Washington and its international allies strongly reject.

While Brent crude prices rose more than 3% on Monday due to the renewed hostilities, market analysts note that energy prices remain well below the record peaks seen earlier in the conflict. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged both Washington and Tehran to immediately halt hostilities and return to the negotiating table.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2026 06:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).