Iran · 19 August, 2026 · 3 min read
Donald Trump Labels Strait of Hormuz “A New American Land,” Says No Iran Talks
Trump posts map labeling Hormuz as 'New American Land' and denies talks with Iran. Iran counters with its own map, declaring California Iranian territory in response.
Whether the Straits of Hormuz remains open and mines are removed/detonated.
8 of 10 outlets skipped it: projectile attacks on ships in the strait caused damage and at least one death.
Reuters was read line by line by the Watchdog: 5.8. See the score →
47outlets compared
Same story, two versions
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Democracy Now!
“unidentified projectiles struck two ships in the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, killing at least one sailor.”Read the original ↗
Al-Jazirah Net
“added that the Strait of Hormuz is open and functioning normally, with all sea mines either removed or detonated.”
Translated from the original.
Read the original ↗Democracy Now! adds a ship-death detail others omit; Al Jazeera instead stresses mine/open claims.
Hormuz as U.S. territory
U.S. President Donald Trump posted a map of the Strait of Hormuz on Truth Social labeled “A New American Land,” and he said “There are no talks or negotiations currently taking place, or planned, with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“There are no talks or negotiations currently taking place, or planned, with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Trump also asserted that “The Strait of Hormuz is open and functioning normally, and all sea mines have been removed or exploded,” while describing the waterway as under U.S. control through a blockade.
Iran’s response included Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, via X, saying Trump’s “illusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will soon either be corrected, or we will correct the delusions of this delusional man.”
In parallel, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said his country “will not reopen the Hormuz Strait before the lifting of the blockade, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, and the lifting of sanctions,” and he linked reopening to ending threats and military operations on all fronts.
The dispute is playing out as the Strait of Hormuz returned to the front line of escalation after a merchant vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile, damaging the engine room and injuring a crew member, while Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations said the vessel was struck while passing through the strait and the Omani Coast Guard assisted the remaining crew members.
Tehran pushes back
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the U.S. has failed to force Iran to surrender and that “America is now begging to negotiate with us according to our conditions,” as Trump simultaneously denied talks and posted the “new American territory” framing.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said mediators will not return to broader U.S.-Iran talks until Iran and Oman reach their own deal on passage through the strait, according to Democracy Now!D
In Tehran’s messaging, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, via X, asserted that Trump’s “illusion about the Strait of Hormuz would be corrected soon,” while Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s Chief Assistant Mohammad Reza Arif emphasized Iran’s firm insistence on its rights in the waterway.
The BBC also reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Qasemi rejected the UAE’s accusations, saying the UAE’s “accusations” are not true, after the UAE said it detected two missiles launched “from Iran toward the state.”
The BBC further said the UAE decided to “halt all activities, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran, until further notice,” attributing the move to “regional escalation that undermines regional and international peace and security.”
What’s at stake next
The standoff is tied to the June 17 memorandum of understanding and a 60-day negotiating window that expired without a broader peace agreement, with the memorandum described as contemplating lifting the naval blockade on Iran completely within 30 days and lifting economic sanctions and releasing unfrozen Iranian assets.
“Brent crude rose above $91 per barrel on Tuesday”
BigGo Finance said Brent crude rose above $91 per barrel on Tuesday and WTI crude climbed to nearly $85, framing Trump’s “NEW U.S. Territory” post as coming as a 60-day negotiating period between Washington and Tehran expired Monday.
In Iran’s stated conditions, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Strait “will not reopen” until the blockade is lifted and Iranian assets frozen abroad are released, alongside lifting sanctions and ending threats and military operations on all fronts.
The BBC reported that since the activation of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran in mid-June, which later collapsed, the UAE “has not reported any attacks, unlike other Gulf states that were targeted by attacks after both sides of the war resumed hostilities in July.”
Meanwhile, the dispute is also intersecting with maritime incidents in the strait, where the Joint Maritime Information Center said unidentified projectiles struck two ships in recent days, killing at least one sailor, and where Qatar said mediators would not return to broader U.S.-Iran talks until Iran and Oman reach their own deal on passage.