US President Donald Trump plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory after "we finish the victory over Iran." He said this on Friday during a rally in Nassau County, UNN reports, citing CNN.
Details
According to the White House chief, this will happen "very soon."
After we finish defeating Iran, which is now suffering a devastating defeat, I will very soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory. Essentially, that is exactly what it is. We have established a blockade. No ship will pass if we do not want it to
The publication adds that declaring an international waterway US territory would require the deployment of troops in the area for an indefinite period, although Trump had previously promised that the war in Iran would be short-lived.
Context
The day before, the head of Iran's paramilitary Basij force, Hossein, stated that the Strait of Hormuz "is under Iran's control and management."
The remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the US has "full control" over the strategic waterway.
Earlier, Trump stated that Iran would "suffer very badly" if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened to shipping in the near future.
Amid reports of possible progress in the negotiations, oil prices fell to their lowest level in the past three weeks.