Trump says ‘US will pretty soon declare Hormuz its territory’ as Iran conflict drives up fuel costs

• About 20% of global oil, LNG shipments pass through waterway.
• Oil prices rose this week, with Brent crude nearing $90 a barrel.
• Rising fuel costs could hurt Trump ahead of Nov midterm polls.

President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, escalating his rhetoric over the strategic waterway as the Iran conflict pushes up oil and gasoline prices.

“After we finish defeating Iran … pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” Trump said in a speech in Garden City.

It was unclear how seriously Trump intended the remark or whether it represented a new US policy position. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical pressure point for global energy markets, with roughly 20% of global oil and LNG shipments normally passing through the waterway.

The prospect of prolonged disruption has helped drive oil prices higher this week, with Brent crude approaching $90 a barrel. US gasoline prices have also climbed to around $4 a gallon.

Trump, meanwhile, urged Americans to accept somewhat higher gasoline prices as the cost of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

In his speech, Trump said Americans who had to “pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline” should view the higher costs as necessary to ensure that Iran could not acquire a nuclear weapon.

“What we’re doing is a great service for the world, not only for ourselves … and we’re really doing a great job,” Trump said, adding that he would never apologise for attacking Iran.

The comments carry growing political risks for Trump as higher fuel prices clash with his campaign promise to lower energy costs. Democrats are already seeking to make the economic fallout from the Iran war an issue ahead of November’s midterm elections.

‘USS Abraham Lincoln deployment not nearly long enough’

Meanwhile, President Trump dismissed concerns about the toll on US sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying the aircraft carrier’s more than 260-day deployment in support of the war with Iran was “not nearly long enough” even as families and lawmakers raised concerns about mental health and deteriorating conditions aboard the ship.

In a brief exchange with reporters before flying to New York, Trump rejected suggestions that the deployment had gone on too long.

“No, no, no. Not nearly long enough,” Trump said when asked whether the carrier’s eight-and-a-half months at sea was excessive.

“That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said.

The Lincoln left its home port of San Diego last November and was later redirected to the Middle East to support U.S. military operations in the war with Iran. The carrier has roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard.

The ship has not made a port call in more than 200 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Several Democratic lawmakers have called for answers after families of sailors raised concerns about worsening mental health, living conditions and supply issues aboard the carrier.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday pushed back against reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the Lincoln, calling them “completely misrepresented.”