Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLucy LeesonSaturday 15 August 2026 00:03 BSTIran Links Strait of Hormuz Reopening to US ConcessionsPresident Donald Trump announced plans on Friday to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory amid ongoing tensions with Iran.Trump also warned that the U.S. will hit Iran hard economically as both nations struggle to reach an agreement to end a nearly six-month conflict.The U.S. military is preparing to deploy the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln.The USS Abraham Lincoln has set a record by spending over 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, raising concerns about crew living conditions.Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed Trump's threats, stating Tehran will not be intimidated and that the strategic waterway remains under Iranian authority.In fullIran-US war latest: Trump says Strait of Hormuz will soon be ‘called a territory of the United States’More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in