President Donald Trump says he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory after the conflict with Iran, adding a new point of tension to the months-long war. CNN’s live coverage highlighted the statement as Tehran continued to reject Washington’s claims of control over the strategic waterway.
Iranian officials say the strait will remain closed unless their conditions are met. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran alone will decide when the route reopens. Ship-tracking data showed just two vessels passed through on Friday, compared with more than 130 per day before the war.
The standoff is also affecting commercial shipping. Two vessels operated by the UAE’s ADNOC were attacked while crossing the strait, with the UAE blaming Iran. No casualties were reported in those incidents.
Trump has also acknowledged the economic impact at home, telling Americans to accept higher gasoline prices as the conflict continues. U.S. fuel prices are now about 29% higher than a year ago.
