- President Donald Trump stated he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory after 'we finish defeating Iran'.
- Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is currently at 17% of pre-conflict levels, with only 151 ships transiting in the past week.
- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi asserted that the strait will be closed or opened solely under Iran's authority.
- The US-Iran war began on February 28, leading to significant geopolitical tensions in the region.
- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that Iran has not yet decided whether to resume negotiations with the US.
President Donald Trump stated he intends to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory after the defeat of Iran, which he claims will occur soon.12
"I did the right thing," Trump asserted, downplaying the financial impact of the conflict on Americans, including rising gas prices.
"For you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember… we don’t want to have them have a nuclear weapon," he added during a rally.
Shipping traffic through the Strait has drastically decreased, currently at 17% of pre-war levels, with only 151 ships passing through in the last week, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The Iranian government swiftly countered Trump's declaration, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stating, "The strait will be closed or opened solely under Iran’s authority..." He emphasized that control cannot be seized through U.S. actions or rhetoric.
The ongoing conflict has led to significant disruptions in maritime operations, with 56 reports of damage to vessels in the region since hostilities began.
As tensions escalate, the future of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran remains uncertain, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicating that talks have not yet resumed.
Trump’s remarks reflect a broader strategy to assert U.S. dominance in the region, despite the complexities of international maritime law and Iran's established claims over the strait.
“Iran's deputy foreign minister retorts that the strait 'cannot be seized with a tweet, an aircraft carrier, an executive order, or a campaign speech,' while only 151 ships transited in the past week. Iran's foreign minister says Tehran has not decided whether to resume negotiations with the US.”
Fox News
CBS News
