Trump Escalates Hormuz Rhetoric With ‘New US Territory’ Map

WASHINGTON, Aug 18: US President Donald Trump has posted an image on social media depicting the Strait of Hormuz labeled as “New US Territory,” escalating his rhetoric over the strategic waterway.

The image shows a map with a circle around the Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman at the entrance to the Arabian Gulf, with the words “New US Territory” displayed across the area.

Trump shared the image on Truth Social a day after saying that declaring the strait US territory would be a “great idea.”

Asked last week what he meant when he said he could soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: “I mean we control it.”

“We control it with the blockade, and I like the idea of declaring it a territory,” Trump added.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil and gas supplies passes, making any disruption or change in its status a major international concern.