Tensions Flare as Iran Rejects Trump's Claim on Hormuz Territory

Iran has dismissed US President Donald Trump's claim that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory. The Islamic republic's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated on X that 'the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian'. This comes after Trump told a rally in New York state that he would declare the strait a US territory after defeating Iran.

An unnamed White House official later clarified that Trump was joking, according to the Wall Street Journal. However, the statement highlights the ongoing tensions between the two countries over control of the strategically important waterway.

The closure of Hormuz has driven up oil prices, creating a political headache for Trump as November's midterm elections near. The US has imposed its own retaliatory blockade of Iranian ports in an attempt to cripple its economy.