Iran Live Updates: Trump says He’ll Declare Strait of Hormuz a US Territory

Trump several times highlighted the naval blockade the U.S. is enforcing.

President Donald Trump announced “major combat operations” against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.

Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.

The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz the primary flashpoint.

Strait of Hormuz ‘will remain Iranian,’ deputy foreign minister says

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, posted a response on social media to President Donald Trump’s statement that the Strait of Hormuz would be declared a U.S. territory after Iran is defeated.

“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power,” he said.

He added that, “the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade.”

-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule

Trump says he’ll declare Strait of Hormuz a US territory

President Donald Trump said Friday he’d soon be “declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States” in remarks touting U.S. strength amid the Iran war.

Speaking at an event in Nassau, New York, on Friday mostly focused on crime and the economy, Trump said: “And 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 several times highlighted the naval blockade the U.S. is enforcing in the Strait of Hormuz, which was reinstated in July and marked the collapse of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries pausing hostilities following mutual accusations of violations.

“No ships get through unless we want them to,” Trump said, adding: “Our military is unbelievable. The blockade is unstoppable. It’s a wall of steel. The blockade is a wall of steel.”

Regarding the economic impact of the war, Trump pitched the audience on paying a bit more for gas so that Iran would not be a threat.

“So remember that when you have to pay a little bit more,” Trump said. You’re at $4. It’s OK.”

-ABC News’ Nicholas Kerr and Isabella Murray