Trump Says US Will Maintain Blockade in Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump said the US will maintain its blockade policy in the Strait of Hormuz, as markets watch a dispute with Iran over control of the waterway and the broader direction of the Middle East.

In an interview with NBC on June 1, Trump said, "We'll keep the blockade in Hormuz."

The remarks came as the US and Iran continued talks on extending a ceasefire and pursuing nuclear negotiations. Iran has recently argued that authority over the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Tehran, objecting to US maritime control measures.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously said the maritime blockade on Iran remains in place and that the US is prepared to resume military intervention if necessary. Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, countered that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control and that Tehran would not allow the blockade to continue.

Markets are assessing whether the confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz could affect international oil prices, commodity markets and volatility across global financial markets.