Full story
Trump’s Hormuz “territory” bid
President Donald Trump posted a map on Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “new U.S. territory,” following up on earlier remarks that he would make such a declaration.
“Trump posted a map on social media labeling the Strait of Hormuz a “new U.S. territory””
The Well News reported that Trump said an American naval blockade of the strategic waterway remained in force and that he asserted the strait was open, with “All water mines have been removed or detonated.”
The Hill said the Strait of Hormuz is located in the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and that Trump claimed the United States already controls the waterway through the blockade.
In the same period, The Jerusalem Post reported Trump told reporters, “We control it through the blockade, and I like the idea of declaring it our territory,” after questions in the Oval Office about whether he intended to make the declaration.
Iran rejects, U.S. denies talks
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected Trump’s claims and wrote on X that “The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” adding that “This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command.”
The Well News said Trump also asserted that “no talks with Iran were taking place or scheduled,” while he said the strait was open and operating and that the naval blockade remained “in full force and effect.”
Democracy Now! reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the U.S. is now begging to talk as Trump posted the map labeled “new U.S. territory.”
Anadolu Ajansı reported that Gharibabadi hit back on X writing, “His delusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will soon either be corrected, or we will correct the delusions of this delusional man.”
Shipping, mines, and next moves
The Hill said the Strait of Hormuz carries 20 percent of the world’s oil flows and that Trump’s map and blockade claims left the status of shipping and military operations unclear.
“through which 20 percent of the world’s oil flows”
The Well News reported that officials had not announced whether additional measures would be taken or whether further communications between Washington and Tehran were planned.
The Jerusalem Post said Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Majed al Ansari stated mediators were waiting for Oman and Iran to reach a bilateral agreement on Hormuz before returning to broader talks between the US and Iran.
In parallel, Democracy Now! said prosecutors in Manhattan charged 17 Iranians with hacking for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while the Justice Department said the Mabna Institute digitally broke into 144 U.S. universities and 178 more abroad, stealing over 31 terabytes of research.
