Trump Refuses to Apologize for Iran Strike, Plans to Declare Strait of Hormuz American Territory Forever

August 15th. On Friday, U.S. President Trump stated that he would "never apologize for taking military action against Iran" and described the actions as the "right decision." He mentioned that even if the conflict led to higher oil prices for American citizens, it was worth continuing to pursue the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Trump said, "When you have to pay more, remember this." He also mentioned plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz as "U.S. territory" after "defeating Iran."

Analysts pointed out that if the Strait of Hormuz were to be included in U.S. territory, it could mean that the U.S. would need to maintain military deployment in the region for an extended period. Previously, Trump had expressed hopes for a quick resolution to the conflict.

Currently, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be affected by the conflict, global oil inventories are decreasing, and regional shipping security is under pressure. Iran has stated that the strait will not be fully reopened until the U.S. meets certain conditions.

In addition, there has been another personnel safety incident involving the U.S. Navy's "Abraham Lincoln" aircraft carrier strike group. According to U.S. officials, the carrier strike group experienced a second sailor overboard incident last spring. Meanwhile, the U.S. is deploying the "USS George Washington" aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East to replace the "Lincoln" for its mission.

The White House has emphasized that the Trump administration is focused on both reducing energy prices and preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Vice President Pence previously stated that the primary goal of the U.S. is to ensure "affordable" oil and gas, followed by preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state.