Trump Says He Will Declare Strait of Hormuz U.S. Territory, Iran Rejects Claim

Washington / Tehran (Terror Monitor) — U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory after the United States defeats Iran, drawing a sharp response from Tehran.

Speaking at an event in New York, Trump said that once Iran was defeated, the United States would declare the strategically important waterway American territory. He also referred to the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is one of the world’s most important energy routes. The ongoing conflict has significantly disrupted shipping through the waterway and raised concerns about global energy supplies.

Iran Rejects Trump’s Statement

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected Trump’s remarks, saying the Strait of Hormuz “was Iranian, is Iranian and will remain Iranian.”

Gharibabadi said the waterway could not be seized through a social media post, an aircraft carrier, an order or an election speech. He added that Iran would not be intimidated by U.S. threats or displays of military power.

The Iranian official also said that Iran retains the authority to decide whether the Strait of Hormuz is closed or reopened.

Trump’s remarks come as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high, with the strategic waterway at the center of the confrontation. The disruption to shipping through the strait has raised concerns over energy markets and the potential impact on global oil supplies.

The latest exchange underscores the growing dispute over control of the strategically vital waterway as the United States and Iran remain locked in a wider military confrontation.