Trump Signals Plans To Claim Strategic Strait Of Hormuz As US Territory Soon

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory after the United States defeats Iran, making the extraordinary claim during a political rally in New York state. Trump made the remark while addressing supporters at a police academy and appeared to deliver it with a chuckle before insisting that the statement was serious. "After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated -- pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States," Trump said. "It's true," he added.

The remarks come as Washington remains engaged in a prolonged confrontation with Tehran over control of the strategically vital waterway and the broader conflict involving Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world's most important energy corridors, carrying a substantial share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any sustained disruption to traffic through the strait can therefore affect international energy markets, shipping costs and global supply chains.

According to the information provided, Trump and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28, citing concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme and the stated objective of encouraging a popular uprising against the Iranian government. Iran subsequently responded militarily and established de facto control over significant portions of the Strait of Hormuz, creating a major challenge for international commercial shipping and the US military presence in the region.

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The United States and Iran remain locked in a confrontation over access to the waterway. Iran has denied access to much of the civilian shipping passing through the strait, while the US Navy has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to put economic pressure on Tehran. The dispute has intensified concerns about the future of one of the world's most important maritime routes and the impact of continued military confrontation on global trade.

Trump's proposal to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory would represent a dramatic escalation in Washington's position, given the waterway's strategic location and its importance to regional states and international commerce. The strait is not currently US territory, and Trump's comments did not provide details about how such a declaration would be implemented or under what legal authority. The statement therefore adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile dispute over control of the waterway.

The comments came as the conflict continues to place pressure on maritime traffic and energy markets. With Iran maintaining its position over access to the strait and the US Navy attempting to restrict Iranian economic activity, the waterway remains at the centre of the confrontation. Trump's remarks suggest that Washington is considering an even more assertive approach to the strategic passage, although no formal declaration or specific plan had been announced at the time of his comments.

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