Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), August 22: US President Donald Trump has said Iran will not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is currently “American territory”, amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Addressing a rally in Myrtle Beach, Trump said the United States had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and would not allow Tehran to acquire one.“We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon; we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, adding that Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump also said Iran wanted to reach an agreement with Washington but questioned whether the United States would accept a deal. Referring to the Strait of Hormuz, he said, “I view the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now.”
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump claimed that the United States had “total control” of the area linked to the Strait of Hormuz and said Iran was seeking a deal but was not ready for what he described as the “right deal.”
The remarks came amid continued tensions over the strategic waterway, through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes.Trump had earlier shared an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW U.S. Territory.”
Iran rejected Trump’s claims. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the US President’s position on the Strait would be corrected either by circumstances or by Iran.
Iranian Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaei also criticised Trump’s remarks, saying the gap between Washington’s claim over the waterway and its ability to reopen it was significant.
Trump has also announced economic measures against Iran and warned countries providing financial, business or government support to Tehran of economic consequences.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States fulfils commitments under a 14-point memorandum of understanding, including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and easing oil sanctions.