United States President Donald Trump announced plans to designate the Strait of Hormuz as a territory of the United States,
according to Theguardian. Speaking at a police academy in Nassau County, New York, Trump told supporters on Friday that he would pretty soon
claim the vital waterway as reported by Al Jazeera.
Trump Threatens to Declare Strait of Hormuz US Territory
After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,
Trump said during his speech, delivered with a chuckle. Earlier in the week, Trump claimed on Truth Social that the U.S. had total control
over the strait and stated I think we will keep it,
despite the waterway being an internationally navigable strait bordered by Iran and Oman.
Iranian Officials Defy U.S. Demands and Reject Seizure
Iranian officials swiftly rejected the remarks, with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi calling on the U.S. to accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in delusions,
Nbcnews. Writing on X, Gharibabadi stated that the critical waterway cannot be seized with a tweet, nor with an aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor through an election speech.
The war between the U.S. and Iran was launched on February 28. In the months since, the conflict has severely disrupted traffic through the strategic chokepoint, through which about a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies typically pass. Tanker traffic has been reduced to a trickle compared to the 130 to 140 vessels that normally traverse the strait during peacetime. Ship-tracking firm Kpler reported that only two vessels passed through the strait on Friday, with no crude oil shipments visible.
Blockade, Fuel Prices, and Impasse in Peace Talks
The U.S. has maintained a naval blockade and targeted Iranian shipping and ports to pile economic pressure on Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran continues to enforce its own control over parts of the strait, and a bulk carrier was struck in the hull by an unknown projectile in the waterway on Friday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center.
The prolonged conflict has driven up fuel prices, forcing Americans to pay higher prices at the gasoline pump. Defending the economic impact, Trump told Americans that paying more is necessary to prevent a state sponsor of terror from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Peace negotiations remain at an impasse as a 60-day negotiating period—established after Trump and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June—approaches its end on Monday with few direct talks having taken place. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that messages exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan do not constitute negotiations, and that no decision has been taken to resume direct talks with the U.S. Tehran has maintained that it will not reopen the strait unless the U.S. lifts sanctions, compensates Iran for war damage, and unconditionally releases frozen assets.
Ещё по этой теме
