United States President Donald Trump has said he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz part of the United States, claiming the move would come after what he described as the defeat of Iran.

“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated — pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” he said with a chuckle during a political rally at a police academy in New York state. “It’s true,” he added.

Trump made the remarks amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which began on February 28. Washington and Tel Aviv said the military campaign was aimed at ending Iran’s disputed nuclear programme and triggering a popular uprising against the Iranian government.

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The conflict has since expanded into a struggle over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for energy supplies and commercial shipping.

Iran responded to the offensive by asserting effective control over large sections of the strategic waterway, disrupting access for civilian vessels and raising concerns over global trade and energy markets.

The United States and Iran remain at an impasse over the strait. While Iran has restricted access across parts of the route, the US Navy has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports in a bid to weaken Tehran’s economy.

“We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to,” Trump told the cheering crowd of supporters and police.

(AFP)