Can Trump 'Take Over' The Strait Of Hormuz? What Four Decades Of US Naval Missions Reveal

Last Updated:July 13, 2026, 19:53 IST

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports during peacetime, making it one of the most critical energy corridors.

US President Donald Trump’s declaration that America would “take over" the Strait of Hormuz goes beyond reopening one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints. He has also said Washington would become the “guardian of the Strait" and seek compensation from other countries for protecting global shipping.

“We’ll become the guardian of the Strait," Trump told Fox & Friends, adding that the United States had been guarding it “for nothing" but would now be reimbursed by 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," he said.

Trump’s remarks came after the sharpest exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran since an April ceasefire, fuelling fresh concerns over the conflict and its impact on shipping through one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

Why Trump’s Remark Matters

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports during peacetime, making it one of the most critical energy corridors on the planet. Even limited disruptions can send oil prices soaring and ripple through global supply chains.

Before the latest escalation, commercial vessels transited the waterway through the International Maritime Organization’s Traffic Separation Scheme, a two-way routing system adopted in 1968.

In peacetime, around 120 vessels passed through the strait every day. However, shipping patterns have changed amid fears of sea mines, missile attacks and drone strikes.

Has The US Ever Controlled The Strait?

Not in the literal sense.

While the United States has maintained a dominant naval presence in the Gulf for decades and repeatedly intervened to protect commercial shipping, it has never exercised sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz.

During the recent conflict, Washington tightened maritime security measures targeting Iranian-linked shipping before easing them following a memorandum of understanding reached after talks in Lucerne, Switzerland. That interim agreement has since unravelled, with both sides accusing each other of violating its terms.

Operation Earnest Will (1987–88)

Trump’s proposal has echoes of one of America’s largest naval missions in the Gulf.

During the Iran-Iraq War, the United States launched Operation Earnest Will, escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Gulf after repeated attacks on commercial shipping.

The operation marked the largest US naval convoy mission since World War II and was aimed at ensuring oil exports continued despite mounting attacks on tankers.

Whether such an operation could succeed under today’s conditions is another question.

“The major difference is in the scope and scale of military capabilities of both sides," Jonathan Schroden, chief research officer at the Center for Naval Analyses, told AFP earlier this year.

“Iran didn’t have drones, for example, they didn’t have nearly the missile capacity that they have now," he said, adding that US forces today possess “much, much greater" capabilities in the air, space and cyber domains than they did in the 1980s.

Operation Praying Mantis

Operation Earnest Will soon evolved into one of the biggest direct naval confrontations between Washington and Tehran.

In April 1988, the USS Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian naval mine while escorting commercial shipping through the Gulf. Although the frigate was badly damaged, it remained afloat.

Four days later, the United States launched Operation Praying Mantis, a large-scale retaliatory offensive involving commando raids, missile strikes and aerial bombardments against two Iranian oil platforms that Washington said were being used to support military operations by Iranian speedboats and frigates.

The confrontation quickly escalated into the largest naval battle fought by the United States since the Second World War. Nearly 90 Iranian personnel were killed and around 300 wounded, while two American pilots died when their helicopters crashed.

The US Fifth Fleet

Unlike in the late 1980s, Washington today maintains a permanent military presence in the Gulf through its Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet, whose area of responsibility spans the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

The United States also maintains around 3,500 personnel at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, giving it far greater ability to respond rapidly to threats across the region.

Operation Prosperity Guardian

Washington has continued to rely on multinational maritime missions to safeguard shipping.

In December 2023, it launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, bringing together partner nations to protect commercial vessels in the Red Sea from repeated Houthi attacks.

The initiative reflected a broader shift in US strategy—from acting unilaterally to coordinating multinational efforts to secure key global shipping lanes.

Why Hormuz Is Different

Despite decades of naval dominance, the United States has never exercised exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran retains significant asymmetric capabilities, including naval mines, anti-ship missiles, drones and fast-attack craft capable of disrupting commercial traffic without physically occupying the waterway.

History suggests that while Washington has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to escort ships, retaliate against attacks and project overwhelming naval power, permanently “taking over" one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints would be a far more complex undertaking than any previous US naval mission.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c...Read More

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