Garden city: "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," former President Donald Trump announced during a rally at a police academy in Garden City, New York. His remarks have sparked confusion about whether they reflect a serious policy shift or are merely rhetorical.

According to Deutsche Welle, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded strongly, dismissing Trump's comments and asserting that Iran would "not be intimidated." He emphasized Iran's intention to maintain control over the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict, which began when the US and Israel initiated military action against Iran on February 28, aimed at ending Iran's nuclear ambitions and inciting regime change. In retaliation, Iran has targeted US allies in the Middle East and blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and LNG shipments.

The US has countered by imposing its own naval blockade on Iranian vessels, resulting in a prolonged stalemate over the strait and contributing to soaring energy prices. The economic repercussions of the conflict are expected to be a significant issue in the upcoming midterm elections in November.

During his Garden City rally, Trump further urged Americans to consider the slight increase in gasoline prices as a necessary sacrifice to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He described the US actions as a "great service for the world" and emphasized the effectiveness of the US blockade of Hormuz.

Trump also addressed concerns regarding the living conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier deployed to the Middle East for nine months amid the Iran conflict. Despite reports of deteriorating conditions and suicide attempts among service members, Trump dismissed the notion that the deployment was excessively long, stating that it was "not nearly enough" and confirming plans to replace the vessel with another similar ship.