US President Donald Trump has escalated his confrontation with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, posting a map on Truth Social that labelled the strategically vital waterway as “new US territory” even as Tehran insisted that the strait would remain closed until Washington meets a series of commitments it says were made under an interim peace deal.
The provocative map appeared after Trump claimed that the United States had “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for energy shipments. The move adds a striking territorial dimension to an already tense standoff over who controls navigation through the narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Trump’s remarks on the strait have been more than a one-off threat. He has repeatedly floated the idea of declaring the strategic waterway US territory. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump reiterated that he favoured declaring the strait a US territory, claiming that Washington already had “total control” over the waterway through its blockade of Iran.
“I think it’s a great idea. I mean, we control it with the blockade. I like the idea of declaring it a territory. We have total control over the Strait,” Trump said.
