Iran war live: Trump says he views Strait of Hormuz as ‘American territory’

# Analysis Trump's declaration that the Strait of Hormuz constitutes "American territory" represents an unprecedented escalation in rhetoric that fundamentally challenges Iran's sovereignty and international maritime law. The Strait, through which roughly 21 percent of the world's oil passes daily, sits between Iran and Oman, making such a claim legally baseless under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea while simultaneously signaling an intent to unilaterally control critical global energy infrastructure. If operationalized through military action or blockade enforcement, this position could trigger Iranian retaliation against shipping, oil price shocks exceeding those from previous Middle East conflicts, and broader regional warfare that would destabilize energy markets and Western economies dependent on stable oil supplies. The statement also undermines decades of international maritime norms and signals to allies that established legal frameworks governing shared waters may no longer apply, potentially encouraging other powers to make similar territorial claims elsewhere.