Trump says he views strait of Hormuz as ‘American territory’

During a campaign rally in South Carolina, former U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz to be "American territory." His statement comes as the U.S. continues its military blockade of Iran's maritime traffic, a measure aimed at financially pressuring the country.

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We don’t even know if we won, because I view the strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now.

Trump asserted that the U.S. "doesn't even know if we won" in its dealings with Iran, emphasizing his view of the vital waterway as American soil. He suggested the U.S. controls the strait through its ongoing blockade, which restricts passage for commercial vessels unless permitted by American forces. U.S. Central Command reported that 68 commercial vessels had been redirected to comply with the blockade as of Friday.

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What the hell do I have to do? Go back and bomb Iran a little bit more?

The conflict between the U.S. and Iran has approached the six-month mark without a negotiated peace deal. The Trump administration's strategy involves restricting Iran's access to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for approximately one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil supply, bordered by Iran and Oman.

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Essentially, that’s what it is. We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to.

Trump had previously hinted at this stance, threatening to declare the strait a U.S. territory the previous week and even posting a map on social media labeling the waterway as a "new U.S. territory." In response to Trump's latest declaration, Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, dismissed the comments as "delusions."

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delusions