President Donald Trump has pledged to declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory once the nearly six-month war with Iran concludes, asserting Washington controls the waterway through a naval blockade that diverted 62 commercial vessels since hostilities began in February.
Tehran, which blocked the strait in early March following US-Israeli strikes, dismissed the announcement and refused to reopen the passage without sanctions relief and asset unfreezing. Vice President JD Vance signalled a shift in US priorities toward lowering fuel costs rather than Iran's nuclear programme, as oil prices surged past $110 a barrel.
The Pentagon is deploying the USS George Washington to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected US intimidation, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no decision on resuming talks had been taken. A temporary peace deal signed in June quickly collapsed.