Donald Trump: "Pretty soon I'll be declaring the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States"

Amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump has again asserted American authority over the strategic waterway, telling a police academy event on Long Island on August 14 that he would soon designate it U.S. territory. He later shared a social media image labeling the strait “NEW US Territory.” Iran, meanwhile, announced that vessels from permitted countries would be charged fees for Iranian-provided navigation, environmental, fueling, insurance, and safety services, and an Iranian security official said the strait remains closed until Washington changes course and meets commitments. The standoff has disrupted oil shipments globally. Trump has urged other nations not to aid Tehran financially, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has proposed diplomacy to resolve the crisis.