Trump calls strait of Hormuz 'American territory'
US President Donald Trump said he now regards the strait of Hormuz as 'American territory' while the US maintains a military blockade tied to its ongoing conflict with Iran. The war between the two nations is nearing six months with no peace deal reached.
Speaking at a campaign rally in South Carolina on Friday, President Donald Trump reiterated his claim that the strait of Hormuz belongs to the United States. He was appearing on behalf of senator Darline Graham, who is seeking to permanently hold the Senate seat once occupied by her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
"We don't even know if we won, because I view the strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now," Trump told the crowd. Later in his remarks, he joked about further military action against Iran before reciting a poem he often uses at rallies to reinforce his anti-immigration message.
Blockade continues
The US Central Command said on social media that as of Friday, American forces had redirected 68 commercial vessels to comply with the ongoing blockade. Washington and Tehran have not reached a peace agreement as their conflict approaches the six-month mark. The Trump administration has been trying to pressure Iran economically by limiting access to the strait, a critical route for Iranian oil exports through which roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil typically passes. The waterway lies between Iran and Oman.
Trump first floated the idea of declaring the strait a US territory last week, arguing that the blockade already means no ships pass without American approval. He also shared a map on social media labeling the strait a "new U.S. territory."
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, rejected the remarks, calling them "delusions."
