Washington DC: United States President Donald Trump asserted on Friday that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons while describing the strategic Strait of Hormuz as American territory, intensifying geopolitical friction between Washington and Tehran. Speaking at a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump reiterated that the US had actively disrupted Iranian ambitions and would prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear arsenal under any circumstances.
Addressing the critical waterway through which a major portion of the world’s petroleum transit passes, Trump claimed that the United States maintains complete control over the region under an ongoing naval blockade. He questioned whether Washington should enter into any diplomatic negotiations, alleging that Tehran is eager to reach a settlement but remains unprepared to accept the terms demanded by the American administration. The remarks followed his earlier statements at Joint Base Andrews, where he advocated treating the strategic passage as US domain, accompanied by promotional graphics posted to his social media platform.
Iranian leadership strongly rebuffed the American claims, characterizing the rhetoric as detached from geopolitical reality. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the assertions regarding the maritime corridor would be decisively corrected, while Supreme National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei dismissed the feasibility of the United States asserting ownership over the Persian Gulf waters.
Concurrently, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that passage through the Strait of Hormuz will remain conditional until Washington abides by established diplomatic commitments. Iranian officials maintained that any de-escalation requires the United States to end its regional naval blockade, unfreeze restricted Iranian financial assets, and dismantle oil export sanctions.
