Trump announces Strait of Hormuz claim, Iran sanctions; US carrier to be replaced

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory and impose unprecedented economic sanctions on Iran.

"As soon as we finish defeating Iran, which we are defeating very strongly... I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz territory of the United States," Trump stated in New York. He reiterated that American forces maintain a blockade on Iranian ports. Iran, however, insists the strait will remain closed until Tehran's demands are met, including ending the war and unfreezing foreign assets.

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As soon as we finish defeating Iran, which we are defeating very strongly... I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz territory of the United States.

Trump also told Fox News that a "strong economic attack" on Iran is forthcoming. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previously emphasized that Iran would face economic isolation "like the world has never seen before." New measures are expected next week, independent of the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.

Separately, Trump confirmed that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, currently deployed in the Middle East, will be replaced by a similar vessel. This comes amid concerns raised by Democrats in Congress about the living conditions aboard the Lincoln. In a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Senator Richard Blumenthal highlighted that the ship had been at sea for over 200 days, a record, with numerous reports of shortages of essential supplies, contaminated water, sanitation problems, deteriorating mental health among the crew, and security issues.

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This ship is just sailing, or (will be sailing) soon and will be replaced by another very similar ship.