Trump vows to annex Hormuz as Iran war enters fifth month
Amid escalating naval blockades and soaring energy costs, Donald Trump’s remarks at a New York rally signal a hardening stance in the conflict with Tehran, drawing sharp rebuke from Iranian officials.
President Donald Trump declared at a rally in Garden City, New York, that he intends to designate the Strait of Hormuz as a United States territory once Iran is defeated. Speaking at a police academy event, Trump stated, "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." The remarks mark a significant escalation in rhetorical posture during the five-month conflict between the US and Iran.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, swiftly dismissed the proposal, asserting that the strategic waterway remains under Iranian control and authority. Gharibabadi stated that Tehran would not be intimidated by the President’s comments, reinforcing Iran’s position that it maintains sovereignty over the strait despite the ongoing naval confrontation.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear program and forcing regime change, has resulted in a stalemate over the vital shipping lane. Iran imposed a blockade on the Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed prior to the war. In response, the US has implemented its own naval blockade of Iranian ships and ports, preventing transit unless authorised by Washington.
During the address, Trump urged Americans to accept higher gasoline prices as a necessary cost to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He characterised the increased fuel costs as a "tiny little bit more" that citizens should pay to stop what he described as a "very evil country." The President defended the military campaign as a "great service for the world," insisting that the blockade is effective and that no ships pass through without US consent.
The economic fallout from the war, including soaring energy prices, is expected to be a dominant issue in the upcoming November midterm elections. Meanwhile, Trump also addressed reports regarding the living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed to the Middle East for nine months. Despite claims from relatives of service members citing deteriorating mental health and suicide attempts, Trump denied the deployment was excessive, confirming that a similar vessel would replace the carrier.
