Trump vows Hormuz will become US territory ‘pretty soon’; Iran says 'it will remain Iranian'

US President Donald Trump has asserted that the United States will declare the Strait of Hormuz as American territory "pretty soon" following a perceived victory over Iran, heightening tensions over the strategically important waterway. At a New York political rally on Friday, Trump claimed the nation already "has total control" of the strait via its blockade of Iranian ports.

"After we finish defeating Iran, which is being badly defeated, pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States," Trump stated. He argued that the US is intervening in the interests of the global community by regulating shipping through the waterway. "We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to," Trump asserted.

Iran has firmly rejected Trump's claim to the Hormuz strait. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declared on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian". He emphasized that the waterway would only be opened or closed under Iranian authority, stating that it cannot be seized by a tweet, aircraft carrier, executive order, or campaign speech.

Iran would continue to enforce its blockade as long as Washington fails to acknowledge Tehran's "defeat". The Strait of Hormuz, 170 kilometers long, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major route for global oil and gas shipments. Tensions over the waterway have been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, resulting in a significant drop in shipping activity.

Trump had previously stated that the strait would be "open literally" the following day, but shipping levels remain far below normal. Despite the high petrol prices, Trump defended the military action against Iran, stating that Americans should accept paying more for fuel to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. "For you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember you're doing it so that a very evil country cannot have... a nuclear weapon," Trump said.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran has not yet decided whether to resume talks with Washington, mentioning that Qatar and Pakistan have exchanged messages with both sides, but these contacts do not constitute negotiations. Trump earlier suggested that the US was "low-keying" talks with Iran, describing them as only "semi-negotiating" with Tehran.

The White House later dismissed Trump's comments about declaring the strait US territory as a joke. The legal and diplomatic challenges involved in incorporating the waterway into US territory are substantial, considering that the Strait of Hormuz includes the territorial waters of Iran, Oman, and the UAE, along with international waters.

A recent deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region has faced criticism from Trump, who claimed the deployment was "not nearly long enough" but confirmed that the carrier will be replaced by another similar vessel. The situation surrounding Hormuz remains tense, with ongoing disruptions to shipping and security. The focus now lies on whether the US and Iran can resume negotiations and whether shipping through the Strait of Hormuz can return to normal.

As of now, both sides remain firm in their positions: Trump continues to assert US control over the waterway and increase pressure on Iran, while Tehran maintains its claim to authority over the strait.