United states: President Donald Trump announced plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, as reported by Anadolu Ajansi (AA). Speaking at the new Nassau County Police Academy in Garden City, New York, Trump stated, "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." According to Nam News Network, Trump emphasized that the US blockade of this crucial maritime passage remains effective. He claimed that no ships can pass through the strait without US consent. Trump further commented on the plight of Iran's leadership, stating that the ongoing conflict has left them decimated and without a clear president, suggesting, "It's the only country in the world where nobody wants to be president." Addressing concerns over rising gas prices linked to the conflict, Trump remarked, "So for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your petrol, just remember you're doing it so that a very evil country cannot have - t he number one state sponsor of terror in the world, we don't want to have them have a nuclear weapon." Iranian military officials have contested Trump's assertions, with Iran's central military command labeling the US claims as "baseless lies and fabrications." Kpler, a commodities and shipping data analytics firm, cited by CNN, reported that as of August 12, 3,371 vessels have traversed the strait, representing about 20 percent of pre-war traffic volumes. Efforts to resolve the conflict saw the US and Iran agreeing to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April, followed by a deal on June 17 to initiate negotiations for a final agreement. However, talks hit an impasse due to disagreements over security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies. The period from July 8 to 24 witnessed renewed military exchanges between the US and Iran, with the US targeting locations inside Iran, and Tehran responding by striking US military installations in Jo rdan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
