Trump's Hormuz territory claim was a joke, US media reports

US President Donald Trump's controversial assertion that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory following the war with Iran was made as a joke, US media reported on Friday. Wall Street Journal reporter Brian Schwartz, citing a senior White House official, stated on the social media platform X that Trump has not held any meetings with his advisers to discuss such a move. "President Trump has not met with his advisers about declaring the Strait of Hormuz a US territory post the war and was joking during his speech today in New York," Schwartz wrote.

Remarks at New York rally

Trump made the comment during a political rally at the Nassau County Police Academy in Garden City, New York, where he said: "After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated — pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States." He added with a chuckle, "It's true." Schwartz, who attended the speech, noted that while Trump chuckled after the remark, he subsequently appeared to insist it was factual. The president also claimed that Washington maintains control over maritime access through the vital waterway, stating: "We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to."

Iran dismisses US claims

Iranian military officials have firmly rejected assertions of US authority over the strait, with the country's central military command describing the claims as "baseless lies and fabrications." According to data from commodities and shipping analytics firm Kpler, cited by CNN, approximately 3,371 vessels have crossed the strait in the 166 days since the war began—representing only about 20% of pre-war traffic volumes. The US and Iran had previously agreed to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April and signed a deal on June 17 to initiate negotiations, but talks stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation. From July 8 to 24, military strikes were exchanged, with Washington attacking targets inside Iran and Tehran responding against US facilities in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical energy shipping routes.