Iran Rejects Trump’s Threat To Claim Strait Of Hormuz

Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday that the strategic waterway has always been Iranian and will remain under Iran’s control.

He added that the strait would only be opened or closed under the command of the Iranian authorities.

Trump had made the statement at a political rally in New York, saying he would declare the waterway US territory after defeating Iran.

However, an unnamed White House official later told the Wall Street Journal that Trump was joking when he made the remark.

Iran has also demanded an end to the war and sanctions, the release of frozen assets and compensation for wartime damage before reopening the Strait of Hormuz.