US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: The battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz has entered a more heated phase, with US President Donald Trump saying he would soon move to declare the strategic waterway a territory of the United States after defeating Iran. Tehran quickly rejected the idea, setting the stage for another sharp confrontation over one of the world’s most important energy routes.
Trump made the remarks at a political event in New York state on Friday, saying the United States would take the step after the war with Iran ends. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded by saying the Strait of Hormuz cannot be taken through political statements, military power or presidential orders.
The latest exchange comes as shipping through the waterway remains severely disrupted and diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff have stalled.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Trump Says Hormuz Could Become US Territory
Speaking at a rally in New York, Trump said the United States would claim the Strait of Hormuz once it defeats Iran.
“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,” he said.
Trump’s statement marks a major escalation in Washington’s rhetoric over the waterway, which has become one of the central points of the US-Iran confrontation. Reports said he did not provide details about how such a territorial claim would be implemented.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran Rejects Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Claim
Tehran responded firmly to Trump’s announcement.
Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi hit back at Trump’s remarks, saying the Strait of Hormuz “cannot be seized by tweet” or military force.
“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.
Firmly rejecting Trump’s assertions, Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz “has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian”.
Iran’s response underlined its continued insistence that it controls access to the waterway and has the authority to determine how it operates.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Trump Earlier Claimed ‘Total Control’ Over Hormuz
Trump had already intensified the dispute earlier this week by claiming that the United States had “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz.
He described the US naval blockade as a “WALL OF STEEL” and said Iran could do little to challenge it.
Earlier, Trump asserted, “The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it.”
The declaration came as maritime traffic through the strait remained far below pre-war levels. Reuters reported that only a few vessels crossed the waterway on Friday, while other reporting has highlighted the steep decline in shipping compared with normal traffic before the conflict.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Why is the Strait of Hormuz So Important?
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a critical route for global energy shipments.
Any prolonged disruption can affect crude oil supplies, fuel prices, insurance costs and shipping routes worldwide. The waterway has therefore become one of the most important pressure points in the US-Iran conflict.
The latest crisis has already reduced commercial traffic sharply, with some ships avoiding the waterway because of security risks and uncertainty.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: US-Iran Fight Over Hormuz Intensifies
The dispute over the strait has developed alongside the wider military conflict that began on February 28.
Iran has sought to retain control over the strategic waterway, while the United States has used naval power and a blockade to pressure Tehran. The standoff has also affected global shipping and pushed energy markets higher.
The US has repeatedly insisted that its military presence aims to maintain freedom of navigation and pressure Iran, while Tehran has rejected Washington’s claims of control.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Shipping Traffic Remains Severely Disrupted
Commercial shipping has fallen dramatically since the war began.
Al Jazeera reported that only eight vessels crossed the strait on August 12, compared with roughly 130 to 140 vessels a day before the war.
Other reporting has also shown that ships have increasingly avoided routes perceived as vulnerable to confrontation, while some vessels have gone dark on tracking systems because of security concerns.
The reduced traffic has intensified concerns over global energy supplies and added pressure to already volatile oil markets.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran Insists the Strait Will Remain Under Its Control
For Tehran, the dispute is about much more than shipping access.
Iran has repeatedly insisted that it retains control over the waterway and has rejected Washington’s claims that the US has established full authority over it. Gharibabadi’s latest remarks reinforced that position in direct response to Trump’s proposed territorial claim.
Trump’s latest statement could further complicate attempts to reopen the strait or revive negotiations, particularly as control of the waterway remains a major sticking point in talks.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Global Markets Watch Strait of Hormuz Crisis
The uncertainty around Hormuz continues to weigh on global markets.
Oil prices have risen amid concerns about supply disruptions, while the reduced flow of tankers has created additional pressure on transportation and insurance costs. Reuters reported that US gasoline prices had also risen significantly during the crisis.
The situation has raised fears that a prolonged closure or confrontation could deepen inflationary pressures in countries that depend heavily on Gulf energy supplies.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: What Happens Next?
Trump’s declaration does not itself establish US sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, but it has raised the stakes in an already dangerous confrontation. The immediate focus will remain on whether the US and Iran can restart diplomatic discussions, whether commercial shipping can increase and whether military tensions around the waterway worsen further.
For now, Tehran continues to reject Trump’s claim, while Washington maintains pressure through military and economic measures. The strategic waterway remains at the centre of the wider US-Iran conflict.
