President Donald Trump has stated that he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory, following the ongoing conflict with Iran. This move adds a new point of tension to the months-long war.
Strait of Hormuz Dispute
Iranian officials have said that the strait will remain closed unless their conditions are met. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran alone will decide when the route reopens. Ship-tracking data showed that only two vessels passed through the strait on Friday, compared to over 130 per day before the war.
The standoff is also affecting commercial shipping. Two vessels operated by the UAE’s ADNOC were attacked while crossing the strait, with the UAE blaming Iran. No casualties were reported in those incidents.
President Trump has acknowledged the economic impact of the conflict at home, telling Americans to accept higher gasoline prices as the conflict continues. U.S. fuel prices are now about 29% higher than a year ago.
Original reporting: WMAL (Washington DC) — read the source article.
