Washington [US], August 19 – US President Donald Trump has posted a map depicting the Strait of Hormuz as “new American territory,” reinforcing his recent call for the strategic waterway to be incorporated into the United States.
Trump shared the map on his Truth Social account early Tuesday. The Strait of Hormuz located between Iran and Oman carries around 20 percent of the world’s oil supply making it one of the most strategically important waterways for global energy markets.
Trump first raised the idea of annexing the strait during a campaign-style event on Friday, saying he would “very soon” declare the waterway US territory.
Asked about the remarks at the Oval Office on Monday Trump said he liked the idea and claimed the United States was already controlling the waterway through a blockade.
“We’re controlling it through the blockade and I like the idea of declaring it US territory,” Trump told reporters according to international media reports.
Trump also warned that Iran could create problems by placing mines in the waterway saying he did not want to see ships worth billions of dollars hit mines.
He said the United States was removing hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil each week and predicted that oil prices would continue to fall unless Washington decided to take much tougher action.
Iran has strongly rejected Trump’s claims. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi called the proposal “delusional” and said the Strait of Hormuz “was Iranian, is Iranian and will remain Iranian.”
He said the waterway would be opened or closed only on Iran’s orders and that Tehran would maintain its blockade until Washington accepted what he described as the reality of its defeat.
