White House: Trump joked about Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that the Strait of Hormuz would become American territory after a conflict with Iran was later characterized as a joke by the White House. Trump made the statement during a speech, adding "It's true," to his claim.

Iran's Vice Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, swiftly countered on X, stating the strait "has been Iranian, is Iranian and will remain Iranian." He added that it could not be conquered "with a tweet, an aircraft carrier, an order or an election speech."

An anonymous White House official told Wall Street Journal reporter Brian Schwartz that Trump's comment was meant in jest. Prior to the Iran war, 20 percent of global oil and gas trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway was open before the U.S. and Israel initiated hostilities against Iran.

Earlier, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a political advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, outlined conditions for reopening the strait. These included ending the war, halting attacks on Iran and its regional allies, lifting sanctions, and receiving compensation for war damages.

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It's true