Trump says he will make Strait of Hormuz a US territory after the war
Donald Trump said he would make the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States once the war with Iran was over.
Trump made the claim during a speech at a police academy in New York.
President Donald Trump said he will make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
“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.
Trump’s comments were quickly condemned by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech,” Gharibabadi wrote on X.
“Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power.
“Once and for all, accept the reality: up to this point, you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade.”
Iranian children swim in the Strait of Hormuz as cargo ships are anchored in the distance. Getty Images
At the same event, Trump said he would never apologise for the high prices of petrol.
“For you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“I’ll never apologise.”
The president was clearly restless with his prepared remarks.
While reading some economic statistics, he interrupted himself.
“I hate reading these boring speeches,” Trump said.
“Isn’t it nice to have a president that doesn’t have to read a teleprompter?”
Donald Trump speaks in front of a teleprompter in New York. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Trump had two teleprompters on either side of him during the speech.
In one bizarre moment, he bragged of the “beautiful girls” who come to the White House to thank him for addressing crime in Washington DC.
“These young, beautiful girls in the White House. You know they come in,” he said.
“These young, these gorgeous, beautiful girls — they want to be safe, and they come.”
The Trump administration is under increasing pressure to relieve Navy vessels which have been in the Middle East for months.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed near the Persian Gulf for more than 250 days with only one brief port call.
Families of sailors aboard claim the ship is beset by food and soap shortages, unsafe work conditions and mouldy showers.
President Donald Trump dancing on stage for a crowd of police officers in New York state. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
After five months of combat operations against Iran, morale on board is at concerning lows, MS NOW reports.
Trump was asked by reporters today if the USS Abraham Lincoln had been at sea too long.
“No, no, no,” he replied.
“Not nearly long enough.”
Trump’s comments drew the ire of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“Trump couldn’t care less about the brave service members he is jeopardising with his failed war with Iran,” Newsom said.
“The cruelty is off the charts.”
The crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln have been at sea for more than 250 days. AP
The 5000 crew aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were deployed from San Diego in California.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil and gas company reported two tankers came under fire from Iranian drones as they sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
The tankers suffered minor damage but nobody was hurt.
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