president of the united states donald trump has said it plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz part of the United States, claiming the move would come after what it described as Iran’s defeat.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very defeated, very soon I will declare the Strait of Hormuz as a territory of the United States,” he said with a smile during a political rally at a police academy in upstate New York. “It’s true,” he added.
Trump made these statements in the midst of the current conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began on February 28. Washington and Tel Aviv said the military campaign was aimed at ending Iran’s controversial nuclear program and sparking a popular uprising against the Iranian government.
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The conflict has since expanded into a fight over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for energy supplies and commercial shipping.
Iran responded to the offensive by asserting effective control over large sections of the strategic waterway, disrupting access to civilian shipping and raising concerns about global trade and energy markets.
The United States and Iran remain deadlocked over the strait. While Iran has restricted access to parts of the route, the US Navy has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports in an attempt to weaken Tehran’s economy.
“We have the blockade. No ship gets through unless we want it to,” Trump told the crowd of cheering supporters and police.
(AFP)
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