Amid ongoing military clashes between the United States and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the U.S. may end up controlling the strait and should be compensated for doing so.

According to Reuters, President Trump said in a telephone interview with Fox News on July 13 (local time), "We will keep it, and we will probably run it."

President Trump added, "We will be the guardian of the strait. Maybe we will call it the guardian angel of the strait."

He then stated, "We have to be paid for it."

On June 21, President Trump also hinted that if a final peace agreement with Iran fails, the U.S. could impose tolls in exchange for guaranteeing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated again as the U.S. launched large-scale retaliatory airstrikes following a series of attacks by Iran on merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, to which Iran responded by striking Gulf nations that host U.S. military bases.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)