BANDAR ABBAS, IRAN – AUGUST 10: Two youths sit on the shoreline as ships are seen anchored within the Strait of Hormuz on August 10, 2026 off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran. (Picture by Ali Saeedi/Getty Photos)
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Iran rebuffed U.S. President Donald Trump’s declare that the Strait of Hormuz would quickly grow to be U.S. territory, as a ship within the essential waterway was reportedly struck and negotiations with Tehran appeared no nearer to resuming.
“The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and can stay Iranian; this strait will solely be closed and opened underneath Iran’s command,” Iran’s Deputy International Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated in a put up on X late Friday. “The Strait of Hormuz can’t be seized by tweet, nor by plane service, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech.”
Earlier, Trump claimed that after the U.S. defeats Iran, “fairly quickly I will be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of america.”
Trump, recognized to quote the phrase “to the victor belong the spoils,” has floated the chance that the U.S. might impose tolls within the strait as soon as the battle ends, although he later dropped the concept. The strait was an open, un-tolled worldwide waterway earlier than the U.S. and Israel began the struggle on Feb. 28 by launching strikes towards Iran.
Iran’s international minister was quoted as saying the 2 sides do “not have something like a ceasefire.”
“No negotiations have been held between us and america at the moment,” Iranian information outlet Shahrara Information quoted Seyed Abbas Araghchi as saying early Saturday. “Qatar and Pakistan are exchanging messages between the events and are in touch with us, however this doesn’t imply negotiations.”
Individually, the UK Maritime Commerce Operations Centre (UKMTO) — a corporation backed by the British Navy — stated Saturday it acquired a verified report of a bulk service “being struck by an unknown projectile which has hit the hull.”
Following the breakdown of an interim ceasefire in June, transport within the strait has repeatedly come underneath fireplace from Iranian projectiles and the U.S. has struck Iranian targets as a part of its blockade of Iranian ports.
A ‘tiny little bit extra’ for fuel
Amid the army and diplomatic stalemate, vitality costs stay elevated in comparison with pre-war ranges.
Trump stated Friday that People would want to tolerate barely increased gasoline costs whereas the U.S. punishes Iran.
“So so that you can pay a tiny little bit extra on your gasoline, simply bear in mind you are doing it so {that a} very evil nation can not have, a rustic that actually is the primary state sponsor of terror on this planet,” Trump stated in his speech.
“We do not wish to have them have a nuclear weapon. So do not forget that, when it’s a must to pay just a little bit extra, you are at 4 {dollars},” Trump stated.
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK – AUGUST 14: U.S. President Donald Trump departs after delivering remarks on the David S. Mack Heart for Coaching and Intelligence on August 14, 2026 in Backyard Metropolis, New York. (Picture by Samuel Corum/Getty Photos)
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The common value of a gallon of gasoline throughout the U.S. was $4.07 on Saturday, in line with the American Car Affiliation, increased than the year-ago common value of $3.15.
The U.S. can be sustaining a tricky sanctions regime towards Iran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the U.S. will likely be making use of financial measures “which have by no means been seen on Iran.”
“Will probably be a mix of financial isolation like the world has by no means seen earlier than, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that can hold something from getting in or out of the Iranian ports,” Bessent stated in a Newsmax interview Thursday night time, with out elaborating additional.
Indefinite naval blockade
Bessent’s feedback got here as U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly stated late Thursday that the army can hold a naval blockade of Iran going “indefinitely.” The Navy will rotate ships out and in “as now we have, and we’ll proceed to,” Hegseth advised reporters.
Media reviews have stated that the U.S. plane service USS George Washington was headed to interchange the united statesAbraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for greater than 250 days within the Center East. Its deployment had been anticipated to finish in Might.
The George Washington strike group departed Vietnam on Aug. 12, the Navy stated in a press release.
Hegseth claimed that reviews about poor circumstances aboard the Lincoln, together with meals shortages, declining morale and even makes an attempt by sailors to leap overboard, had been “utterly misrepresented.”
After Hegseth’s feedback, Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., stated on X that he had despatched a letter to Hegseth and appearing Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao to specific critical issues about circumstances aboard the Lincoln.
“The reviews coming from army households and family members concerning the circumstances aboard the united statesLincoln are merely unacceptable. Studies embrace issues of moldy showers, damaged bogs, lack of scorching water, lack of entry to recent produce, and provide shortages,” the letter stated.
Sailors and Marines are additionally stated to have an “overwhelming workload,” which is contributing to “excessive fatigue and burnout,” it stated.
In a put up on X, U.S. Central Command stated that reviews alleging a brawl aboard the service had been false, and that no service members have died.
This got here after Iranian media claimed on Tuesday that seven U.S. Navy personnel have been killed and a number of other wounded “in a violent conflict” on the Lincoln.
— CNBC’s Kevin Breuninger and Lim Hui Jie contributed to this report.
