Trump surprises the world: announces he will declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory

President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would "soon" declare the Strait of Hormuz as part of United States territory, and claimed that Iran was being decisively defeated.

"Very soon I will declare the Strait of Hormuz United States territory. It is true," Trump said with a small smile during a political rally at a police academy in New York state.

The president stated that this will happen "after we finish defeating Iran, which is being defeated very badly."

The United States launched a war alongside Israel against Iran on February 28 with the stated goals of ending the country's controversial nuclear program and triggering a popular uprising.

Mapa del estrecho de Ormuz, angosto y poco profundo, que comunica el Golfo con el golfo de Omán, y constituye un paso clave del comercio mundial de petróleo (Infografía de AFP)

However, Iran fought back by establishing de facto control over much of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for the transport of energy and other global commodities.

In turn, the United States is imposing a blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to paralyze its economy.

"We have the blockade. No ship passes unless we want it to," Trump told the crowd of cheering supporters and police officers.