Hormuz to be US territory after Iran defeat: Trump

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he intends to declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States following a war with Iran, according to The New York Post. Trump, speaking at a Republican rally in Long Island, said that the US would declare the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States once Iran has been defeated, which he anticipates will soon happen.

The situation is fueled by ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, as both nations continue to assert control over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has previously claimed that the US exercises total control over the Strait of Hormuz and that he will maintain this status, even during stalled negotiations with Iran on reopening the strategic passage. He stated that a US naval blockade, referred to by some as a "wall of steel," would prevent Iran from doing anything about it. Trump also highlighted that Iran's military capabilities have been significantly weakened, concluding his remarks with a prayer for divine support.

However, Iran swiftly rejected Trump's claims, asserting that the strategic waterway remains under blockade and will not be reopened until Tehran's demands are met. The Strait of Hormuz Authority noted that Trump's statements and repeated remarks by US officials do not alter the fact that the Strait of Hormuz is still blocked. Iran insists that the blockade will only be lifted if Iran's conditions are accepted.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most sensitive geopolitical chokepoints, frequently leading to spikes in international crude prices and heightened fears of broader conflict in the past. The current escalation has prompted heightened naval patrols, adjustments to shipping routes by commercial vessels, and renewed international calls for diplomacy.

Despite the tense atmosphere, commercial shipping through the crucial corridor continues under tight security oversight, although the environment remains highly volatile.