Trump says he’ll soon declare Strait of Hormuz to be US territory

On Friday, President Donald Trump expressed his intention to declare the Strait of Hormuz a part of US territory following his military victory against Iran. During a political rally at a police academy in Garden City, New York, Trump quipped, "After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated – pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States."

However, it remains uncertain whether Trump's remark was made with serious intent or if it symbolized a new policy stance. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, warned on Saturday that Tehran would not be cowed by threats or displays of force from Washington. He maintained on social media that control over the strategic waterway would be determined by Iran alone.

The war between the US and Iran, initiated on February 28, aimed to halt Iran's nuclear program and incite a popular uprising. Iran, in response, gained de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for significant amounts of global energy and commodity shipping. Currently, the US and Iran are at an impasse over the strait, with Iran limiting access for civilian vessels and the US Navy enforcing a blockade to strain Iran's economy.

At a rally, Trump boasted, "We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to," before urging Americans to accept slightly higher petrol prices as the price to prevent an "evil" country from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump emphasized that this action benefited the world, not just the United States. His comments highlighted the political peril Trump faces as higher fuel prices clash with his campaign pledge of lower energy costs.

Democrats have already planned to link the economic impact of the Iran conflict to their agenda in the November midterm elections. Approximately 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and potential disruptions have caused oil prices to rise.