Trump vows to claim Strait of Hormus as US territory as Iran talks deadline expires
Donald Trump announced at a campaign rally he would declare the Strait of Hormus as US territory, as deadlines for Iran nuclear talks and toll-free shipping expire this weekend.
Trump declares intent over Strait of Hormus
US President Donald Trump told a campaign rally that he would declare the Strait of Hormus as US territory once Iran is defeated. He described Iran as suffering a crushing defeat and provided no further details on how the declaration would be implemented. The strait is one of the most important trade routes for oil and gas and a central point of contention between Washington and Tehran.
As soon as we have defeated Iran, which is currently suffering a crushing defeat, I will declare the Strait of Hormus as territory of the United States.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected the plan on the platform X, writing that the strait can be taken neither by tweet nor by an aircraft carrier, nor by an order or a campaign speech. He said Iran fears neither threats nor intimidation by power demonstrations, and that the US must accept having suffered a strategic and heavy defeat.
The Strait of Hormus belonged to Iran, belongs to Iran, and will belong to Iran.
Expiring deadlines and nuclear talks
The weekend sees the expiration of the deadline within which the US and Tehran intended to conclude negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. Instead of making planned progress, the process has been disrupted by repeated violations of the ceasefire and other points of the framework agreement signed about two months ago. Iran has openly questioned whether it will resume negotiations with the US.
A separate deadline also expires: Iran's commitment to toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormus. How shipping will be regulated afterward is the subject of negotiations between Iran and Oman. Oman reported constructive talks, but no agreement has been announced. Pakistani security sources said an agreement is imminent. Iran stressed these are technical discussions about shipping routes, separate from any ceasefire negotiations with the US.
- Iran war begins, shipping in Strait of Hormus nearly halted
- Framework agreement signed between Tehran and Washington
- Trump announces at campaign event he will declare Strait of Hormus as US territory
- Attack on Adnoc ship reported in the strait, no injuries
- Deadlines expire for nuclear program negotiations and toll-free passage commitment
Ceasefire extension and attacks on shipping
Pakistani security sources said the ceasefire should be extended by another 60 or 90 days, though it has not been decided whether this extension will be publicly communicated. Pakistan serves as mediator in the conflict. Multiple violations of the ceasefire and other agreement points have occurred in recent weeks.
The Iran war, ongoing since the end of February, has nearly brought shipping in the strait to a standstill. The warring parties have been struggling for a full reopening of the de facto blocked strait without success. Overnight into Saturday, an attack on a commercial ship was reported. The UAE state news agency WAM reported on X that a ship belonging to the state oil company Adnoc was attacked, with no injuries. No information on damage was initially available. The Emirates had already reported the previous night that two Adnoc ships had been attacked.
