US President Donald Trump on Friday said he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States. Addressing a political rally in New York state, the US president exuded confidence that the US would defeat Iran in the ongoing war.President Donald Trump departs after speaking at the David Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Garden City, N.Y. (AP Photo)"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," he said.The Strait of Hormuz, through which the one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passes, has remained shut since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28.ALSO READ: Trump says record-setting Navy deployment to support Iran operations 'not nearly long enough'Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected Trump's remarks, saying the strategic waterway "cannot be seized by tweet" or military force.In an X post, Gharibabadi said Iran "neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power", asserting that the Strait of Hormuz "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian".Earlier, Trump claimed that the United States had "total control" over the strait and that he "will keep it" amid stalled negotiations with Iran regarding the reopening of the strategic waterway.ALSO READ: Trump's steam catapult choice over EMALS for aircraft carriers slammed by security expert: ‘Some drunk old pilot…’Trump asserted, "The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, 'A WALL OF STEEL,' and there is nothing Iran can do about it."Tussle over Strait of HormuzIran closed the key waterway after the US and Iran launched an unprecedented attack on the country in February, calling for an end to their alleged nuclear programme. While Tehran briefly allowed ships of some countries, including India, it has largely maintained a strict control over Hormuz, frequently issuing warnings that any ship crossing the strategic waterway would be attacked.The United States has since been in a tussle to regain control of the waterway, imposing its own blockade of Iranian ports in a bid to dismantle the West Asian nation's economy.