Trump Claims Hormuz Will Be US Territory After War

On Friday, Donald Trump declared that after defeating Iran, he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States, asserting US control over the vital waterway. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, rejected this claim, stating the strait "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian." A White House official later described Trump's statement as a joke, clarifying that he had not consulted advisers about it.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense, with tanker traffic significantly reduced due to a US naval blockade and recent attacks on commercial vessels, including an incident involving the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company on August 13. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Tehran had not decided to resume negotiations with the US but was in technical discussions with Oman regarding a sea route.

He noted that reopening shipping would depend on the US meeting Iran's conditions. The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil transport, with about 15 million barrels of crude oil passing through daily.