Overview
- President Donald Trump told supporters at a rally on Friday that he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory and said the American naval blockade gives Washington control over passage.
- Iranian officials including Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi publicly rejected the claim and said Tehran will continue to enforce a blockade until the United States meets political and economic conditions set by Iran.
- Iran and Oman have negotiated a shipping‑route map and reported agreement on a corridor, but both sides say the technical framework is not a final deal and does not automatically reopen the strait.
- Commercial traffic has collapsed from pre‑war levels, ship‑tracking firms report only a handful of daily transits, and regional agencies have recorded attacks on vessels while the U.S. signals new sanctions and keeps a strong naval presence.
- The standoff is raising fuel prices, squeezing consumers and complicating diplomacy, and legal experts note that unilateral U.S. annexation would lack a clear basis under international law and existing maritime rules.