US Could Soon Declare Strait of Hormuz as Territory – Trump

US President Donald Trump has declared that the Strait of Hormuz could soon become a territory of the United States following what he described as the defeat of Iran.

Trump made the remarks on Friday while addressing supporters at a political rally held at a police academy in New York State.

According to the US president, Washington would move to claim the strategic waterway once the ongoing conflict with Iran is concluded.

“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,” Trump said.

“It’s true,” he added, as the crowd reacted with cheers.

Trump and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, citing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme and seeking to exert pressure on the Iranian government.

The conflict has since heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route through which substantial volumes of oil and other commodities pass.

Iran has exercised de facto control over significant portions of the waterway, restricting the movement of some civilian vessels, while the US Navy has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports as part of efforts to weaken Tehran economically.

“We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to,” Trump told the gathering.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and remains one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.

Trump’s latest declaration is expected to generate further international debate over the future of the waterway and could add another layer to the escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran.