US President Donald Trump called the Strait of Hormuz "American territory" during a campaign rally in South Carolina, as the US continues its military blockade of Iran's shipping and ports, reports infohub.kz.
Trump said, "We don't even know if we won, because I view the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now." He also joked about bombing Iran and recited "The Snake," a poem he often uses to underscore his anti-immigrant policies.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), 68 commercial vessels have been redirected due to the blockade. The conflict between Iran and the US has lasted nearly six months without a peace deal. The Trump administration seeks to squeeze Iran financially by restricting access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil exports. Roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil passes through the strait.
Trump had previously threatened to declare the strait a US territory. At a New York police academy speech, he said, "Essentially, that's what it is. We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to." On Monday, he told reporters he liked the idea of declaring it a territory, and he posted a map labeling the waterway as a "new U.S. territory" on social media.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, dismissed Trump's comments as "delusions."