Donald Trump has said he will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.
The US president escalated his rhetoric over the vital waterway that carries a significant share of global oil supplies, as he spoke to the media on Friday.
He also told Fox News that the US will hit Iran hard economically as Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a deal to end a nearly six-month conflict.
His comments come as the US prepares to deploy the USS George Washington to the Middle East to relieve military personnel stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln for more than 200 days amid growing concerns about living conditions on the aircraft carrier, according to reports.
The Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has not made a port call in 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea, according to US senator Richard Blumenthal, who wrote to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about concerns for those on board.
Blumenthal cited reports of “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system”.
Trump officials have dismissed concerns about the conditions of the USS Lincoln.
Trump says he will declare Strait of Hormuz US territory
Donald Trump has said that he will declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.
“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States”, Trump said to cheers at an event in New York Friday.
Washington and Tehran both claim to have control over the vital oil waterway, which has been effectively closed amid the war.
US special forces ready to step up combat drills in Philippines
American special operations forces are ready to step up warfighting-readiness exercises with counterparts in the Philippines and other countries in Asia to further strengthen a security alliance and help deter a major conflict in the region, a U.S. military official said Thursday.
Adm. Frank Bradley, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, is in the Philippines after a trip to South Korea. He will then head to Japan for talks with military officials.
He is the latest American military top brass to visit key Asian allies in recent weeks to reassure them of Washington’s commitment to the region given the U.S. preoccupation with the war in Iran.
In full:
Karoline Leavitt quit so fast it blindsided Trump and there’s no plan to replace her as press secretary: official
President Donald Trump was caught off guard by the sudden resignation of Karoline Leavitt as his press secretary and does not intend to name a replacement for her when she steps down at the end of this month, a White House official told The Independent, leaving the most visible lectern in American politics without a permanent occupant less than three months before the midterm elections.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel deliberations, said the White House will instead continue offering reporters briefings from senior administration officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, all three of whom took turns in the briefing room during Leavitt’s maternity leave.
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USS Lincoln sailor’s wife blasts dismissive Trump over ‘appalling’ conditions on ‘floating metal prison’
Food shortages, broken toilets and 250 days at sea: Crisis unfolds on Trump’s warship in the Middle East
It was almost exactly a month after anti-government protests swept through Iran that Donald Trump sent an armada of warships to the region with a promise that help was “on its way”.
The jewel in the crown was the USS Abraham Lincoln, a multi-billion dollar aircraft carrier with enough space to move a force of 90 fighter planes and helicopters into Iran’s backyard.
As of Friday, it has been 200 days since the Lincoln arrived in the region, and 250 since its initial deployment - setting a record for consecutive days at sea.
Tehran won't be intimidated by Trump, says Iranian minister
Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said early Saturday that Tehran would not be intimidated by threats or a show of force by Washington after US president Donald Trump said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.
Commenting on Trump's statements, Gharibabadi said in a post on X that the strategic waterway would only be opened or closed under Iran's authority.
Watch: JD Vance says keeping gas prices low is 'goal number one' of Iran war
US vice president JD Vance said the first aim of the Iran war is keeping down gas prices for Americans - before the stated goal of ostensibly stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
Pressed on the “seesawing” between pursuing talks and attacking Iran on Thursday, Mr Vance told Fox News that he believed the recurring “issue” is that Tehran does not always “honour” its deals.
He went on to outline new objectives for the war, saying goal “number one” was to “keep oil and gasoline cheap for Americans all over our country”.
He added: “And then, obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
The latest: Trump sends new aircraft carrier to Middle East as war puts troops under strain
The United States is preparing to deploy a new aircraft carrier to the Middle East to relieve military personnel stationed on USS Abraham Lincoln for more than 200 days amid growing concerns about living conditions on the ship, according to a report.
The US military is understood to be preparing to replace the Lincoln with the USS George Washington as part of a scheduled Middle East deployed, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing US officials.
The Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has not made a port call in 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea, according to US senator Richard Blumenthal, who wrote to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth about concerns for those on board.
Mr Blumenthal cited reports of “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system”.
Hegseth insisted on Thursday that the US was prepared to maintain its blockade on Iran “indefinitely”, however, saying the military had the means to rotate its ships.
Trump says he will soon declare Strait of Hormuz a US territory
President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would be soon declaring the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, escalating his rhetoric over the vital waterway that carries a significant share of global oil supplies.
Top US official to step down as war with Iran escalates
One of Donald Trump’s top national security advisors involved in talks with Iran is expected to resign in the coming weeks as tensions with the Islamic Republic re-escalate, according to a report.
Andy Baker, the White House deputy national security advisor, will leave the administration in the next few weeks, Axios reported on Friday.
A source close to Mr Baker told the outlet he wanted to spend more time with his family and had stayed on longer than planned to ensure a smooth transition.