Iran war live: Trump vows to make Hormuz US territory ‘pretty soon’

US President Donald Trump announced his intention to declare the Strait of Hormuz a part of the United States territory following Iran's defeat. The statement was made during a political rally at a police academy in New York state on Friday. Trump joked, "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."

According to AFP, Trump confirmed the remark. The war between the US and Iran began on February 28, with the goal of stopping Iran's nuclear program and inciting a popular revolt within the country. However, Iran retaliated by asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway used by significant amounts of global energy and other commodities.

The US and Iran are currently engaged in a tense standoff over the strategic passage, with Iran blocking access to civilian ships while the US Navy enforces a blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to economically cripple the nation. Trump assured the crowd, "We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to."