Trump Says Iran Keeps Strait of Hormuz Open to Collect $500 Million Daily
Former President Donald Trump claims Iran prefers the Strait of Hormuz open to collect $500 million a day, writing about the issue on his Truth Social platform.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday asserted that Iran does not actually want to close the Strait of Hormuz and instead keeps it open to generate what he described as $500 million in daily revenue. His comments, posted on his Truth Social platform, framed the issue as both an economic calculation by Tehran and a matter of diplomatic posturing. The statement renews attention on the strategic waterway that sits at the centre of global energy shipments.
Trump’s assertion and immediate claims
Trump said on Truth Social that Iran’s declared intention to close the Strait of Hormuz was a pretext, and that Tehran in fact benefits financially from keeping the route open. He added that Iran framed the closure threat as a response to a purported comprehensive blockade, suggesting the rhetoric was aimed at saving face rather than enforcing a shutdown. Trump also relayed that unidentified interlocutors had told him Tehran wanted the strait reopened promptly.
Details from the social-media post
In the post, Trump said unnamed individuals contacted him several days earlier to report Iran’s alleged preference for reopening the waterway. He quoted his sources as saying that reopening would complicate any chance of striking a negotiated settlement with Iran unless the country was effectively neutralised, including its leadership. The remarks were presented as both an intelligence-derived anecdote and an interpretation of Tehran’s strategic calculus.
Potential impact on shipping and energy markets
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global energy and commercial shipping, and statements about its status can reverberate quickly through markets. Even talk of disruption tends to lift oil prices and prompt shipping firms to reassess insurance and routing, while transit uncertainty raises costs across supply chains. Analysts say that sustained rhetoric, regardless of immediate action, can impose real economic consequences by increasing the perceived risk of passage through the strait.
Regional security and diplomatic implications
Comments from a former U.S. president about Iran and the strait feed into a broader regional security narrative that includes naval escorts, sanctions, and diplomatic pressure. Gulf Cooperation Council states, international shipping interests and major powers all monitor developments closely because any escalation could force operational or policy adjustments. Diplomatic actors typically urge de-escalation while intelligence and military planners consider contingency measures to keep vital sea lanes open.
History of tensions around the strait
The Strait of Hormuz has long been a flashpoint in Iran-U.S. tensions, with past incidents involving seizures of vessels, mine and drone attacks, and threats to disrupt transit. Tehran has previously warned it could restrict passage in response to sanctions or military pressure, while the international community has maintained that freedom of navigation is essential for world trade. Those historic episodes inform current reactions and explain why statements about the strait draw immediate attention.
Critics and observers caution that political rhetoric can overstate or simplify complex strategic choices, and they note that economic incentives often shape state behaviour as much as military capability does. Whether Iran’s public and private calculations align with the version presented on social media cannot be verified solely from one source, and the pathway from statement to policy to action remains unpredictable.
