Donald Trump, the President of the United States, at an election rally in South Carolina once again took a harsh position on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, saying: “I now declare the Strait of Hormuz to be American territory.”

Mr. Trump also emphasized that Iran “should never” obtain nuclear weapons and warned that otherwise “very bad things” would happen.

His latest remarks come as the United States, in recent days, has increased economic pressure on Iran while maintaining a broad military presence in the region.

Washington is set to announce details of new sanctions against Iran on Monday; sanctions that, according to U.S. officials, could also affect Iran’s important trading partners, including China.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the main hotspots of tension in the Iran–United States war, and the passage of oil tankers and commercial ships through this waterway has sharply declined.

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