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Trump threatens to declare strait of Hormuz ‘territory of the United States’
theguardian.com • • nation
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump threatened to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory amid ongoing conflict with Iran, asserting control over the crucial oil transit route during a speech in New York.
- The Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for about 20% of the world's seaborne oil, has been nearly closed since the U.S. and Israel initiated military actions against Iran in February.
- Peace talks with Iran remain stalled, with Tehran rejecting reopening the strait, while the U.S. continues to enforce a blockade aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran.
- Iranian officials dismissed Trump's threats, emphasizing that control over the strait rests solely with Iran, rejecting U.S. intimidation or shows of force.
- Despite rising fuel prices in the U.S. due to the conflict, Trump defended the economic impact on Americans, framing it as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
