Trump says he will "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz as "US territory"

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a "United States territory" following his claim of having "defeated Iran," escalating tensions with Tehran amid stalled negotiations and approaching deadlines for a ceasefire agreement. Speaking during a political rally in Long Island, New York, Trump stated, "After we finish defeating Iran, which is being defeated very severely, I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz United States territory, essentially. We have a blockade. No ship passes unless we want them to." His remarks came as U.S.-Iran talks remain deadlocked, with the deadline for a 60-day period under a memorandum of understanding signed June 17th drawing near. The deadline for the 60-day period outlined in the June 17th agreement expires on Monday, August 17th. The agreement called for an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts as part of efforts to end the war in the Middle East. In a Wednesday post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump reiterated his stance, asserting, "We have complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. I believe we will keep it!" He added, "There's nothing Iran can do about it." This week, Trump had already hinted at the possibility of the U.S. retaining control over the strategic waterway, arguing that American attacks since February have significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities. However, Tehran has rejected these claims, insisting its forces remain capable and active. Trump’s comments come amid ongoing military confrontations, with both sides accusing each other of escalatory actions. The U.S. and Israel launched a joint campaign against Iran on February 28th, targeting Iran’s controversial nuclear program and aiming to spark internal unrest. In response, Iran established effective control over much of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy and trade. Meanwhile, the U.S. has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to cripple its economy. During the rally, Trump also criticized Spain’s "open border" immigration policy, blaming it for allowing "many criminals" into the country, referencing the influx of migrants into Ceuta at the end of July. He accused former President Joe Biden of failing to address similar issues during his tenure, claiming that under Biden, the U.S. faced daily crises akin to those in Ceuta. "They let in 65,000 people. Remember, 25 million people, we were worse. It was like this every day in our country, for months and months," Trump claimed. He further emphasized that the current administration has the authority to deport individuals present in the country illegally. In addition to addressing immigration, Trump visited the Nassau County Police Academy, where he spoke about reducing crime in the region, particularly in Long Island, which has long struggled with gang violence, including from groups such as MS-13. He endorsed Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor of New York against Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. Trump praised Blakeman as a defender of law and order and a representative of "common sense." He referenced the impact of "open borders" on U.S. immigration, stating that four years of such policies led to the entry of "25 million people." He also criticized Hochul for supporting the controversial "no cash bail" policy, which allows detainees charged with minor offenses to be released before trial to prevent jail overcrowding. Meanwhile, economic pressures continue to mount as oil prices rise due to heightened U.S.-Iran tensions. The price of Brent crude rose to $88.52 per barrel, up 1.67%, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed to $82.40 per barrel, up 1.42%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Tehran on Thursday of an unprecedented economic isolation combined with continued blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, which would restrict cargo movement in and out of Iranian ports. These developments underscore the deepening geopolitical rift between the two nations and their broader implications for global markets and regional stability.