Trump calls the Strait of Hormuz “American territory”

As of Friday, American forces have redirected 68 commercial vessels to comply with the blockade, the US Central Command (Centcom) wrote on social media.

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The US and Iran have failed to negotiate a peace deal as the conflict approaches the six-month mark.

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At a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump also reiterated that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

“We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon, we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, or you will see some very bad things,” he said.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has described the Strait of Hormuz as “American territory,” although ship-tracking data show that most vessels whose routes could be identified were using the corridor designated by Iran rather than the route backed by Washington.

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Data from maritime intelligence company Kpler recorded 236 vessels entering or leaving the Gulf between Aug. 1 and 19.

Of the 88 ships whose routes could be identified, 83 used Iran’s northern corridor, three took the Omani route backed by Washington and two followed the prewar central route.

The remaining 148 vessels were classified as dark or unidentifiable, meaning their routes could not be reliably established.

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The strait runs between Iran and Oman and normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

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