United states: President Donald Trump announced on Friday his intent to declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States, as reported by Anadolu Ajansi (AA). The statement was made during an address at the Nassau County Police Academy in Garden City, New York, where Trump emphasized the strategic importance of the waterway and the ongoing conflict with Iran.

According to Nam News Network, Trump remarked that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains effective, insisting that no ships can pass through without American consent. He highlighted the weakened state of Iran's leadership due to the conflict, expressing concern over the lack of negotiation partners, stating, "It's the only country in the world where nobody wants to be president."

The president also addressed the rise in gas prices attributed to the conflict, urging Americans to accept higher costs as a sacrifice to prevent Iran, described by Trump as the "number one state sponsor of terror," from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Despite Trump's assertions, Iranian military officials have contested the US's proclaimed control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's central military command dismissed the claims as "baseless lies and fabrications," a sentiment echoed amid ongoing tensions in the region.

Data from Kpler, cited by CNN, reveals that since the conflict's inception 166 days ago, 3,371 vessels have navigated the strait, reflecting about 20 percent of the pre-war traffic levels. Efforts to negotiate peace included a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April and a subsequent agreement in June, although discussions have stalled over security and navigation disputes in the strategically vital waterway.

The situation escalated between July 8 and 24, as the US and Iran exchanged military strikes, with the US targeting sites inside Iran and Tehran retaliating against US facilities in neighboring Arab nations.