Trump: Soon I Will Declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. Territory

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he intends to declare the Strait of Hormuz "very soon" as U.S. territory. It remains unclear how serious this declaration is and whether it reflects Washington's new political stance, reports The Guardian.

During a speech at a police academy on Long Island, New York, Trump stated that he would pursue such a move after the conclusion of the war with Iran. "After we finish defeating Iran, which is suffering a very heavy defeat, I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz to be the territory of the United States. Essentially, that's what it is. We are blocking it. No ship passes unless we want it to," said the U.S. president.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime routes for trade, with about one-fifth of the oil transported by sea globally typically passing through it. The strait has been almost closed since February, following the initiation of military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump's announcement, stating that Tehran would not fear U.S. threats or displays of power. According to him, the decision to open or close the Strait of Hormuz will be made by Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also mentioned that Tehran has not yet made a decision regarding the resumption of negotiations with the U.S. He noted that messages conveyed via Qatar and Pakistan do not constitute negotiations.

Earlier, Trump had declared that the U.S. has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz and even wrote, "I think we will hold it." At the same time, Hormuz is a strait used for international navigation, with its coastal states being Iran and Oman.

Following the onset of war with Iran, fuel prices have risen significantly. However, Trump stated that Americans must accept the necessity of paying higher prices for gasoline, linking it to the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Tehran, for its part, continues to assert that the Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened as long as the U.S. does not change its behavior, does not compensate for wartime damages, does not lift sanctions, and does not unfreeze Iranian assets.