As of Tuesday morning, March 10, 2026, President Trump has moved from offering naval escorts to explicitly considering a military takeover of the Strait of Hormuz. In a high-stakes interview with CBS News on Monday, the President stated that the U.S. is “thinking about taking it over” to restore the flow of global energy that has been crippled by the ongoing conflict.
The situation has escalated rapidly following the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, with the U.S. and Israel targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
The “Takeover” Proposal (March 9–10)
The President’s rhetoric has shifted from “protecting navigation” to “occupying the chokepoint” as shipping remains at a de facto standstill.
- “Very Far Ahead of Schedule”: Speaking from his Doral golf club, Trump claimed the war against Iran is “very complete” and that the Iranian military has “no navy, no communications, and no air force” left to defend the waterway.
- The Strategic Rationale: Trump argues that with the Iranian Navy purportedly “knocked out,” U.S. troops could easily exert physical control over the Strait to bypass the IRGC’s blockade and “Death, Fire, and Fury” threats.
- Warning of “20 Times Harder” Strikes: On Tuesday morning, Trump warned that any Iranian attempt to interfere with oil shipments would trigger a response “twenty times harder” than previous strikes, targeting “easily destroyable” sites that would make it impossible for Iran to rebuild.
Current Operational Status
While the “takeover” remains a proposal, the U.S. Navy is already preparing for active intervention.
| Action | Status (March 10, 2026) |
| Naval Escorts | The Pentagon confirmed the Navy is ready to begin “Operation Earnest Will II,” providing armed convoys for tankers “as soon as reasonably possible.” |
| Merchant Insurance | The administration is leveraging the DFC (International Development Finance Corp) to provide U.S. government-backed “political-risk insurance” for stranded tankers. |
| Operation Epic Fury | Over 5,000 targets have been struck in Iran since Feb 28. While naval bases like Bandar Abbas have seen heavy damage, Iran still maintains “asymmetric” threats like sea mines and coastal drones. |
Global and Market Reaction
- Oil Volatility: Trump’s claim that the war would be over “very soon” and that the U.S. might take the Strait caused Brent crude to pare some gains, though it remains highly elevated above $115/barrel.
- Regional Impacts: The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of global oil. Currently, over 150 tankers are waiting outside the Gulf, while nearly 170 container vessels are trapped inside, facing insurance premiums that have jumped 500% in a week.
- Allied Concerns: While Israel is a direct partner in the strikes, European allies and China (the largest importer of Iranian oil) have expressed deep concern that a U.S. occupation of the Strait would turn a regional conflict into a permanent global “geopolitical nightmare.”
Timeline of Events
- Feb 28: Operation Epic Fury begins; IRGC “closes” the Strait to all commercial traffic.
- March 3: Trump hosts German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and announces the first plan for U.S. Navy escorts.
- March 9: Trump tells CBS he is “thinking about taking it over,” claiming Iran’s military is decimated.
- March 10: Trump issues a “Death, Fire, and Fury” ultimatum on Truth Social, threatening total destruction if the oil flow is blocked.
