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US President Donald Trump has posted a map depicting the Strait of Hormuz as “New US Territory”, escalating tensions with Iran as efforts to revive negotiations remain stalled.
In a post on Truth Social yesterday (18 August), Trump said there were no talks or scheduled discussions with Iran. He also claimed that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remained “in full force and effect”, while insisting that the strategic waterway was open to maritime traffic, according to Al-Jazeera’s report.”The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated,” Trump wrote.
The post came a day after Trump claimed that Washington had been engaged in back-channel discussions with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian officials rejected that claim.
Trump’s latest remarks also follow his repeated threats to take control of the Strait of Hormuz if Iran refuses to surrender.
Iran, meanwhile, has maintained that the waterway will remain closed until Washington meets conditions outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in June. The demands include lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports and oil sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and ending US military operations and threats.The post came a day after Trump claimed that Washington had been engaged in back-channel discussions with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian officials rejected that claim.
Trump’s latest remarks also follow his repeated threats to take control of the Strait of Hormuz if Iran refuses to surrender.
Iran, meanwhile, has maintained that the waterway will remain closed until Washington meets conditions outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in June. The demands include lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports and oil sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and ending US military operations and threats.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi appeared to mock Trump’s map, saying his “delusion” regarding the Strait of Hormuz would either be corrected or “we will correct” it.
