Trump to declare Strait of Hormuz as US territory

US President Donald Trump has said he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz as American “territory”, as Washington increases pressure on Iran.

The war between the two countries, which has been raging for nearly six months, still shows no signs of ending.

“After we finish defeating Iran, which is currently being defeated very badly, I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz as territory of the United States,” Trump said in a speech at a police academy in New York state on Friday.

Trump made the statement while claiming that the United States still maintains strong control over the vital shipping lane through a naval blockade of Iranian ports.

He described the blockade as “unstoppable” and a “wall of steel”.

“You just need to remember that what we are doing is a great service to the world,” he said.

The US-Israel war against Iran, which began in late February, and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran have triggered a rise in oil and other commodity prices around the world.

Iran has repeatedly stated it will not reopen the strait, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, until the US lifts the blockade.

Iran has also asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under its control and management, while Trump faces growing domestic pressure to end the unpopular war.