Was Trump Joking About Declaring Hormuz US Territory?
US President Donald Trump was reportedly "joking" when he said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory.
US President Donald Trump made a statement at a political rally in New York, claiming that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz as US territory after the war with Iran. However, according to US media and a report from The Wall Street Journal, Trump's comments were likely a joke, as he has not yet discussed the move with his advisers.
Iranian military officials have denied the claim, labeling it as a "lie and a baseless fabrication." As of the time the news broke, around 3,371 ships had passed through the strategically important waterway in the 166 days since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began. The US and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire in April, but negotiations for a final agreement have stalled due to disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation.
Tensions have escalated since July 8, with both sides launching military attacks against each other's facilities in various countries.
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