US President Donald Trump has said he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory after the war with Iran, as tensions remain high over control of the strategic waterway.
Trump made the statement on Friday while speaking at a police academy on Long Island, New York, claiming that Iran was being defeated and that the US would take control of the strait once the conflict ends.
“Pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz strait a territory of the United States,” Trump said.
He also claimed that the US blockade currently prevents ships from passing through the waterway unless Washington allows them to do so.
Trump’s remarks come amid stalled discussions between Washington and Tehran, with negotiations failing to produce an agreement on reopening the strait.
Iran, which borders and exercises control over much of the waterway, has refused to fully reopen it since the conflict involving the US and Israel began in February.
The US has maintained pressure on Tehran through measures targeting Iranian shipping and ports, seeking to increase economic pressure on the Iranian government.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said separate discussions with Oman are focused on establishing a maritime route through the Strait of Hormuz. He maintained that the US would still need to meet Iran’s conditions before shipping could fully resume.
Araqchi also said negotiations between Iran and Oman over the future management of the waterway could reach an agreement soon.
Meanwhile, maritime tracking service TankerTrackers reported that an Iranian supertanker had been seen loading oil at Kharg Island for the first time since late July.
Araqchi further clarified that Iran had not decided to resume direct negotiations with the US, saying messages exchanged through Qatar and Pakistan should not be interpreted as formal talks.
Source: Trump’s remarks; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
