Iran fires back at Trump’s threat to declare Hormuz a US territory

Iran has firmly stated that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy waterway, will "remain Iranian" and will only be closed or opened under its command. This assertion comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent declaration at a political rally that he would soon declare the strait a U.S. territory after defeating Iran. The Islamic republic denies Trump's repeated claims that the strait, which it effectively closed earlier in the year, is under U.S. control.

Following Trump's remarks, an unnamed White House official reportedly clarified that the president was joking, according to the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi reiterated the country's stance on X, stating, "The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian."

Diplomatic tensions persist as attacks in the Strait of Hormuz continue to pose risks to regional shipping. The United Arab Emirates' state-owned oil giant ADNOC reported that one of its vessels was attacked the previous night. The UAE has previously blamed Iran for other attacks on vessels linked to ADNOC as they transited the strait. These incidents have heightened concerns over maritime security in the crucial waterway, which previously carried about a fifth of the world's oil and LNG exports.

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The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian. This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command.