Iran kicks As Trump Says Hormuz Will Become US Territory After War

Iran has dismissed US President Donald Trump's assertion that he will declare the Strait of Hormuz as part of American territory following a war. The nation maintained its stance that the crucial waterway remains under Iranian control. Trump made the declaration on Friday during a visit to a police academy on Long Island, New York, as tensions surrounding the nearly sealed waterway persist.

He stated, "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." The White House subsequently described Trump's claim as a joke, emphasizing that the president had not discussed the notion with his advisers. Tensions over the blocked waterway have intensified, with commercial shipping traffic through the strait plummeting to a mere fraction of its usual levels.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated on Saturday that Tehran has not decided to resume negotiations with Washington, as the messages exchanged through Qatar and Pakistan do not constitute official talks between the two countries. However, Iran is reportedly engaging in separate technical discussions with Oman to establish a sea route through the Strait of Hormuz.

The minister also noted that progress on reopening shipping through the waterway hinges on the US meeting Iran's conditions. Iran's efforts to reopen the vital shipping lane have been undermined by recent attacks on commercial vessels in the region. The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of targeting an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company vessel while it was passing through Hormuz on August 13, though no injuries were reported.

These attacks have further diminished the already reduced commercial shipping through the waterway, which typically carries around one-fifth of all global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. President Trump contends that the US effectively controls the waterway through its naval blockade, while Iran continues to assert its authority over the strait.

The ongoing standoff has exacerbated energy prices, with oil prices surging due to the disruption and lack of progress in resolving the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, which separates Iran from Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world's most significant energy chokepoints. According to the International Energy Agency, approximately 15 million barrels of crude oil pass through the waterway daily, accounting for roughly 34% of global crude oil trade.

The Strait of Hormuz has been at the center of the US-Iran conflict since the war commenced in February, with shipping traffic dwindling as Iran asserted control over the passage and the US maintained a naval blockade. Reports indicate that only nine commodity vessels transited the strait on Thursday, compared to the August daily average of 12.

Iran remains adamant that the strait remains under its control, while Washington has demanded the restoration of unrestricted shipping.