United states: President Donald Trump announced on Friday his intention to designate the Strait of Hormuz as US territory, as reported by Anadolu Ajansi (AA). This statement was made during his appearance at the Nassau County Police Academy in Garden City, New York.

According to Nam News Network, Trump emphasized the ongoing US blockade of the vital maritime passage, asserting that the flow of ships is strictly controlled by the United States. He claimed that Iran's leadership has been severely weakened by the ongoing conflict, leaving the country with no viable leaders to negotiate with. Trump expressed skepticism about the stability of Iran's political leadership, remarking that it is a unique situation where no one seems willing to assume the presidency.

Addressing the issue of rising gas prices linked to the conflict, Trump urged the public to view the slight increase in fuel costs as a necessary sacrifice to prevent Iran, described as the "number one state sponsor of terror," from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

In response, Iranian military officials dismissed US claims of controlling the waterway, denouncing them as "baseless lies and fabrications." As per data from Kpler, a commodities and shipping data analytics firm cited by CNN, 3,371 vessels have traversed the strait since the conflict began, accounting for approximately 20 percent of pre-war traffic volumes.

Efforts to reach a peaceful resolution have been complicated, with the US and Iran having agreed to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April, followed by negotiations for a final agreement in June. However, talks have stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and the navigation rights through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical channel for global energy supplies and trade.

The situation further escalated between July 8 and 24, when the US and Iran engaged in military strikes, with the US targeting locations within Iran and Iran retaliating against US facilities in several Arab nations, including Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.