Former President Donald Trump has declared the Strait of Hormuz to be "an American territory," escalating his rhetoric regarding the vital waterway as the conflict with Iran approaches its six-month mark. Speaking at a rally in South Carolina, Trump reiterated his stance that the reopening of the strait is central to resolving the ongoing war.
"They want to make a deal so badly, we don't even know if we want it because I view the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now. It's an American territory," Trump stated. He also claimed that the United States had prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and left the nation desperate for a deal.
Earlier on Friday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly expressed a desire to end the conflict, stating, "it would be better to end the war today while we are in a position of strength and dignity." Pezeshkian also asserted that Tehran made no concessions when it signed a memorandum of understanding with Trump in June, though the country's oil exports have been severely impacted, leading to a worsening cost of living crisis, according to The Financial Times.
Trump had previously warned on Thursday of launching a "most crushing economic operation" against Iran and threatening "tremendous" consequences for any country conducting business with Tehran. He specified activities that must cease, including "oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies."
The intensified economic pressure campaign comes as the war nears its sixth month with no clear diplomatic or military resolution and the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly disrupted. With the approaching November elections, Trump faces increased domestic scrutiny over the war's economic impact on consumers and the toll on the U.S. military.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed Trump's plan as a "diversion" from the U.S.'s own domestic crises. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously indicated that the U.S. would ramp up efforts to economically isolate Iran, complementing a U.S. naval blockade. "It will be a combination of economic isolation, like the world has never seen before," Bessent stated.
The U.S. Treasury has been conducting "Operation Economic Fury" for months, aiming to cut off Iran's funding through targeted sanctions.
Iran has maintained a defiant stance, having weathered months of U.S. military actions that have not led to a decisive end to the war. The conflict began on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, followed by retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the region. Tehran's missile and drone threats have severely curtailed shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after a U.S.-Iran deal to reopen it collapsed.
Amidst these developments, a Shiite cleric in Tehran reported that the smell of "burned flesh" still lingers near the compound of the former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, following a U.S. attack. The cleric claimed the site was hit with "110 bombs and missiles."
On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates announced it was suspending all economic dealings with Iran after reporting it had been targeted by ballistic missiles. The UAE, a significant trading partner for Iran before the war, is home to a large Iranian community and shares deep cultural ties with the nation.
Trump urged allies to unite in isolating and defeating the Iranian threat. "We need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat," he said.