WASHINGTON, August 12, 2026
Trump Iran Strait of Hormuz tensions returned to the spotlight after President Donald Trump said he had no trust in Tehran, claimed the United States currently has full control of the Strait of Hormuz, and warned that Washington was in a powerful position to respond if Iran attempted further action in the strategically vital waterway.
Trump delivered some of his sharpest remarks about Iran while discussing the state of relations between Washington and Tehran, making clear that he remains deeply skeptical of the Iranian leadership despite periods of negotiations and attempts to reach agreements.
The president said he would be the “last person” to trust Iran, accusing Tehran of repeatedly misleading him.
His comments come as the Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the wider confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The waterway is a critical route for international energy shipments and has become a major point of military, economic and diplomatic pressure during the continuing US-Iran dispute.
Trump Says He Has No Trust in Iran
Asked about Iran, Trump made his position unmistakable, saying he does not trust the Iranian government.
Trump said he was effectively the last person who would place confidence in Tehran because, in his assessment, Iranian officials had repeatedly been dishonest in their dealings with him.
The remarks underline the continuing trust deficit between the United States and Iran, despite previous diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions.
Trump has repeatedly accused Tehran of negotiating in bad faith. In late July, the White House highlighted similar comments from the president in which he accused Iranian officials of changing their public position during negotiations even after discussions had taken place.
His latest remarks suggest that any future negotiations with Iran are likely to remain overshadowed by Washington’s doubts over whether Tehran would comply with commitments reached through diplomacy.
What Did Trump Say About the Strait of Hormuz?
The most consequential part of Trump’s remarks concerned the Strait of Hormuz, where he asserted that the United States — not Iran — now has full control.
According to Trump, Tehran no longer controls the strategic maritime passage.
“They don’t have control. We have complete control,” Trump said, describing the current US position in the region.
The president has made similar claims before. On July 28, Trump said the United States had imposed a naval blockade and that only vessels Washington wanted to allow through were able to transit. He explicitly argued that Iran did not control the Strait and that the United States did.
That distinction is important for accurate reporting: the assertion of “full control” represents Trump’s characterization of the US military position, rather than a neutral legal determination over sovereignty in the Strait.
Iran borders the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz, while Oman lies to the south. The broader waterway is governed by international maritime considerations as well as the territorial waters of states bordering it.
Trump Issues Fresh Warning to Tehran
Trump also coupled his assertion of US control with a direct warning to Iran.
He said that if Tehran tried to take action against the United States or challenge the current situation, the consequences could be severe.
Trump said Iran could be “blown up” if it attempted something that prompted an American military response, while adding that Washington was currently in what he described as a “very good position.”
The warning fits with Trump’s broader strategy of combining military pressure with the possibility of negotiations.
In his July 28 remarks, Trump said the US military had the ability to strike Iranian infrastructure rapidly if an agreement could not be reached, while also stating that he would prefer to avoid further destruction if a diplomatic outcome remained possible.
The rhetoric therefore reflects the administration’s continuing approach of maintaining pressure on Tehran while leaving open the possibility of a negotiated settlement.
Why Is the Strait of Hormuz So Important?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
Located between Iran and Oman, the narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and, from there, the Arabian Sea.
A substantial volume of oil and liquefied natural gas produced by Gulf states moves through the Strait before reaching international markets, making uninterrupted shipping through the area particularly important to global energy security.
Recent tensions have also turned the Strait into a major focus of US sanctions enforcement.
The US Treasury Department announced additional measures on July 29 targeting what Washington described as an Iranian-backed maritime scheme involving mandatory insurance payments for commercial vessels seeking to transit the Strait.
Earlier US actions had also targeted an Iranian entity accused by Washington of attempting to impose fees and conditions on vessels navigating the strategic route.
These developments illustrate why control and freedom of navigation in the Strait have become central elements in the confrontation between the two governments.
Trump Addresses Secret Service Security Measures in Turkey
Trump separately addressed questions about his personal security and an unusual aircraft switch during a recent trip to Turkey.
The president said he follows the instructions given to him by the US Secret Service and the military when security officials determine that special precautions are required.
Trump said the decision over his travel arrangements was entirely a matter for the Secret Service.
He explained that security officials had instructed him to travel on a different flight and a different aircraft, and that he complied with their recommendation.
The president said the alternative aircraft was also secure, but stressed that his protection team wanted him to use it, so he followed their instructions.
Trump confirmed on Tuesday that security officials had wanted him moved off Air Force One in Turkey because of a potential threat.
‘I Do What They Tell Me,’ Trump Says of Secret Service
Trump said his approach to presidential security was straightforward: he does what the Secret Service tells him to do.
He acknowledged that officials might have been responding to a possible threat when they made the decision to alter his travel arrangements.
Trump also noted that receiving threats is not unusual for him, saying he faces many security threats.
His comments offered a public acknowledgment of the extraordinary precautions taken to protect a sitting US president during overseas travel, particularly during a period of heightened tensions with Iran.
The incident has drawn additional attention because of the broader deterioration in US-Iran relations and concerns surrounding possible threats connected to the confrontation.
Iran Tensions Remain Central to Trump’s Foreign Policy
Trump’s latest remarks show that Iran remains one of the most significant foreign-policy and national-security challenges facing his administration.
The dispute now extends across several fronts: Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, sanctions, military deterrence, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, threats to commercial shipping and continuing questions over whether diplomacy can produce a durable agreement.
The White House has maintained that US pressure is intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon while protecting freedom of navigation and American interests in the region. In an official July 28 statement, the administration said Trump was maintaining maximum pressure while continuing to leave open the possibility of a deal.
At the same time, the Treasury Department has continued expanding measures related to Iranian maritime activity and shipping networks. On July 29, the department targeted two firms it said were involved in an IRGC-backed scheme affecting commercial transit through Hormuz.
Trump’s ‘Full Control’ Claim Sends a Strong Signal
Trump’s declaration that Washington has “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to draw particular attention because the waterway carries enormous strategic and economic importance.
The president’s wording also reinforces his administration’s effort to portray Iran as militarily constrained and the United States as holding the stronger position.
However, the most precise characterization is that Trump is claiming US military and operational dominance over the Strait, rather than announcing a change in the internationally recognized territorial status of the waterway.
That distinction is important as Washington and Tehran continue to trade claims over who can influence shipping and security in the region.
For now, Trump’s message to Iran is clear: he remains deeply distrustful of Tehran, believes the United States holds the advantage around Hormuz and is prepared to respond forcefully if Iran challenges the current US position.
At the same time, his comments about the extraordinary precautions taken during his departure from Turkey demonstrate that the security consequences of the confrontation extend beyond military deployments and maritime traffic to the protection of the US president himself.
