Trump says Strait of Hormuz ‘effectively’ US territory as pressure on Iran continues

WASHINGTON, United States — ABD, President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran is eager to strike a deal with Washington but has not put forward an acceptable offer, and that the US border and the Strait of Hormuz are fully under American control. Speaking to reporters, Trump described the narrow waterway as "effectively" US territory and argued that oil prices will fall below current levels once tensions with Tehran ease. Trump also asserted that Iran lacks the funds to pay its police and military, and claimed Tehran has lost its capabilities in naval and air forces, radar and technical equipment, as well as in production. He did not provide evidence for the claims, which could not be independently verified. The US president reiterated that Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon," saying US strikes on the country were necessary to end its nuclear program. Trump warned that an Iranian nuclear weapon would "destroy" Israel and the wider Middle East if ever used. The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program and recent US military operations targeting Iranian facilities. No further details on a potential diplomatic track were immediately available.