Trump Claims Strait of Hormuz Is American Territory

US President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz "American territory" on Friday and warned that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, escalating rhetoric in a standoff with Tehran over the strategic waterway. Speaking at a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump asserted US control over the narrow passage vital to global energy supplies and questioned whether Washington would accept a deal with Iran.

"We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, or you will see some very bad things," Trump told the crowd. "We went down, and we stopped them. They will never have a nuclear weapon." He said Iran desperately wanted an agreement but indicated the US might not be interested. "They want to make a deal so badly, we don't even know if we want a deal, because I view the Strait of Hormuz as American territory right now, it's an American territory," Trump stated.

Earlier on Friday, before departing for South Carolina, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews that the US had "total control" over the region linked to the Strait of Hormuz due to a naval blockade. "We have total control if you look at the blockade. We have total control of...