Trump Says U.S. Will Declare Strait of Hormuz 'U.S. Territory' — 'After We Finish Defeating Iran'

President Donald Trump stated Friday that the U.S. will declare the Strait of Hormuz "U.S. territory" following Iran's defeat, escalating American assertions of control over the strategic waterway as Tehran counters that the strait "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian." He told an audience in Nassau County: "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 emphasized American dominance over the waterway, saying: "We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to." He described the naval operation as an "unstoppable" and "wall of steel," asserting the blockade serves global interests beyond American security concerns. In a Fox News interview, Trump elaborated: "We totally control, we own, in the true sense, we own the Strait of Hormuz. We only allow boats to come in if we want them to come in." According to the article, U.S. Central Command has redirected 62 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to enforce compliance. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated the Navy can maintain operations "indefinitely." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced forthcoming economic measures described as "Economic Fury," characterizing the approach as a "one-two punch" combining blockade enforcement with financial sanctions. Trump claimed the blockade costs Iran "hundreds of millions of dollars every single day." The article notes between eight and nine million barrels of oil transit daily under U.S. escort. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister countered: "The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian." He asserted the waterway "will only be closed and opened under Iran's command."