Washington, August 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump has described the strategically important Strait of Hormuz as “American territory” while reiterating that Iran will never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Trump made the remarks at a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he was campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Darlene Graham ahead of Tuesday’s runoff election.
Speaking about Iran, Trump said Tehran wanted an agreement with the United States before referring to the Strait of Hormuz and declaring, “It’s an American territory.” He did not provide any legal or territorial basis for the assertion.
Trump also said the confrontation with Iran had forced his administration to temporarily shift attention away from its domestic economic agenda.
“I hate to do this, but we’re gonna have to take a little detour down to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said, adding that the United States had acted to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
“We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, claiming that US action had eliminated the threat. “They’ll never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
The President claimed that Iran had suffered extensive damage to its military leadership and infrastructure, including its navy, air force, radar capabilities and manufacturing capacity.
He said the reported losses among Iran’s leadership had also complicated the prospects for negotiations because, in his words, he did not know “who the hell to deal with”.
Trump later returned to Iran while introducing “The Snake”, a song he frequently uses at political rallies. He joked with supporters about what he would have to do after the event, including carrying out further strikes against Iran.
The President also linked the conflict to energy prices, predicting that oil and petrol prices would decline after the confrontation with Iran ended.
The rally was primarily aimed at mobilising Republican voters behind Graham. Trump urged supporters to treat Tuesday’s runoff as though he himself were on the ballot.
“I am on the ballot. We’re all on the ballot. Our country’s on the ballot,” he said.
Graham, who has Trump’s endorsement, pledged her support for the President, saying she would have his “back 100 per cent”.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important maritime energy corridors and a critical route for global oil and gas shipments.
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