President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 27 May flatly ruled out any arrangement that would give Iran control over the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the critical oil shipping lane international waters that would remain open to all nations. The statement came during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, even as his administration continued nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Trump's Position on the Strait

“The Strait is going to be open to everybody,” Trump said. “Nobody’s going to control it. It’s international waters.” He acknowledged that Iran had sought control over the waterway during ongoing talks but was unequivocal that Washington would not permit it. “They would like to control it. Nobody’s going to control it,” he added.

Trump also reiterated that Iran would not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon under any circumstances. “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. I’m doing that for the world,” he said.

Iran’s Weakened Position, According to Washington

Trump claimed Iran’s military and economic standing had deteriorated sharply following recent US operations and sanctions. Referencing what he called ‘Operation Epic Fury’, he said American forces had crippled Iran’s military infrastructure and compelled its leadership back to the negotiating table. “They’re negotiating on fumes,” Trump said, adding that Iran’s economy was “in freefall” with “250% inflation.” These claims could not be independently verified.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Iran’s navy, air force, and defence industrial capacity had been severely damaged. “They may have missiles, but they can’t build more right now,” Hegseth said.

Diplomacy First, Military Options on the Table

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the President’s hard line while leaving room for a negotiated outcome. “The bottom line is Iran’s never going to have a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said. “Diplomacy is always the first option.” He noted there had been “some progress” in talks and that the coming days would be decisive for whether negotiations could advance.

Rubio also confirmed that the US had secured agreements with 20 countries to accept deportees from the United States as part of a wider immigration enforcement strategy — a separate but significant diplomatic development announced at the same Cabinet session.

Energy Markets and the Strait Standoff

Trump defended his administration’s energy record, asserting that the United States now produced more oil than “Russia and Saudi Arabia combined.” He argued that elevated oil prices driven by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz would ease as US production expanded and Venezuelan exports increased. “Those prices are going to come down fast,” he said.

The President noted that oil tankers were reportedly lined up near the Strait awaiting clearance. “At the right time, we’ll release them,” he said, without specifying a timeline.

Abraham Accords and Broader Middle East Diplomacy

Trump indicated that any final deal with Iran could be tied to a broader regional framework, including the expansion of the Abraham Accords. He said the US was “requesting strongly” that countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar join the agreement framework established during his first term. The linkage signals that Washington views the Iran nuclear file as inseparable from its wider Gulf strategy.

With talks described as ongoing and the next few days flagged as critical, the trajectory of US–Iran negotiations — and the status of global oil flows through the Strait — will remain closely watched.