On Friday, Donald Trump announced his intention to proclaim the Strait of Hormuz as United States territory, intensifying his rhetoric concerning the world's most vital maritime corridor amid ongoing tensions with Iran.
The announcement was made during a rally in Garden City, Nassau County, New York, where Trump addressed senior U.S. security officials.
In his own words, Trump stated: "After we finish defeating Iran... I will be declaring the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory very soon."
During the same speech, the president claimed Washington's dominance over the waterway. "We have the blockade. No ship passes unless we allow it," he asserted.
This declaration was not unexpected. Three days prior, Trump had posted on Truth Social: "The U.S. has full control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE’LL KEEP IT!"
According to Reuters, Tehran's response was swift. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi firmly refuted the claim.
"The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized with a tweet or an aircraft carrier... The Strait of Hormuz has been and will remain Iranian," Gharibabadi declared on the social network X.
Iran also labeled Trump's assertions about controlling the strait as "false and fabricated."
Back in April, the U.S. president had announced "full control" over the maritime route and later that month, even suggested renaming it "Trump Strait."
FAQs on Trump and the Strait of Hormuz
What did Trump announce regarding the Strait of Hormuz?
Trump announced that he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory, intensifying tensions with Iran.
How did Iran respond to Trump's claims?
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected Trump's claims, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz is and will remain Iranian.