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Trump Says Strait of Hormuz to be Declared US Territory 'Pretty Soon'

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US President Donald Trump said Friday that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory, as tensions remained elevated over the critical waterway.

"Pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States," Trump said.

Trump made the remarks during a speech on Long Island, New York on Friday.

The US President described the naval blockade as "unstoppable" and a "wall of steel."

"No ships get through unless we want them to," he said.

Trump defended US actions in the Middle East, saying US citizens may have to pay somewhat more for gasoline as a result of the conflict.

"I just say this. So for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember you're doing it so that a very evil country cannot have a country," Trump said, reiterating his stance that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump's comments in a post on X.

"The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power," Gharibabadi said.

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