Washington, 15 August – U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, while claiming that the United States continues to maintain a blockade over the strategically vital waterway.
Speaking Friday at the new Nassau County Police Academy in Garden City, New York, Trump said Iran was being “very badly defeated” and that he would soon make the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory.
“We want to make it so that ships can pass through there only when we want them to,” Trump said, referring to what he described as the ongoing U.S. blockade of the waterway.
Iran Rejects U.S. Control Claim
Iranian military officials have rejected Washington’s claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Central Military Command on Thursday described the claims as “baseless lies and fabrications.”
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, serving as a major transit route for global oil and energy supplies.
Ship Traffic Drops Sharply
According to data from maritime intelligence and shipping analytics company Kepler, cited by CNN, 3,371 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz during the first 166 days of the conflict, up to August 12.
The figure represents only about 20 percent of normal vessel traffic through the waterway before the conflict began, highlighting the disruption to international shipping and energy trade.
U.S.-Iran Talks Remain Stalled
The United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in April following mediation efforts by Pakistan. The two countries later signed an agreement on June 17 and began negotiations aimed at reaching a final settlement.
However, talks subsequently stalled over disagreements regarding security guarantees and the right to unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies and international trade.
Renewed Fighting in July
Between July 8 and July 24, the United States and Iran again exchanged military strikes. The United States carried out attacks on several targets inside Iran.
In response, Tehran said it had targeted U.S. military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The renewed hostilities have further increased concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the potential impact on global shipping, energy markets and international trade.
COMMENTS