US President Donald Trump has warned that the Strait of Hormuz will soon be declared ‘US territory’. Iran has rejected his statement. The country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said, ‘The Strait of Hormuz was Iran’s, is Iran’s and will remain Iran’s.’
In a post on social media, he wrote, “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be captured by tweets or aircraft carriers, by issuing orders or by giving election speeches. Iran is not afraid of threats, nor does it shrink from a show of force.”
He also said the US had failed to impose its will on the strait. Garibabadi said the waterway would be “opened and closed only at Iran’s behest”.
He added, “As long as you refuse to accept the reality of your defeat and remain in delusion, Iran will maintain this blockade.”
In a speech at a police academy on Long Island, New York, on Friday, Trump said he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory.
This sea route, which is important for global trade, typically carries about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil.
He claimed that the US has maintained a blockade there. Therefore, no ship can pass through the strait without US permission. However, it was not immediately clear whether Trump was announcing any new policy decisions of his administration through this statement.
