“No ship passes through it unless we want it to.”

Donald Trump stated that after the conclusion of the war against Iran, he would declare the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important sea lane whose movement has been significantly complicated for several months due to military actions, as American territory, Reuters reports.
“After we complete the defeat of Iran, which is now suffering a very serious defeat, I will quite quickly declare the Strait of Hormuz as territory of the United States. In essence, that's what it is. We are imposing a blockade. No ship passes through it unless we want it to,” he stated.
The publication notes that it remains unclear how seriously Trump took his statement and whether it signified a change in official policy.
Prior to this, Washington's position regarding the Strait, through which about 20% of global oil exports passed before the war, involved ensuring freedom of navigation, upholding international maritime law, and deterring Iran through economic blockade and targeted strikes.
Earlier, Trump, in response to Iran's demand for compensation for losses incurred over the past five months of military conflict, stated that he also demands compensation from Iran.
He assured that the terms of compensation were not discussed during negotiations with Iranian representatives.
Comments