Trump insists Strait of Hormuz is new U.S. territory

U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric regarding the Strait of Hormuz, declaring it a "new territory of the United States" in a social media post. This statement follows previous assertions by Trump that the U.S. has "total control" over the strategic waterway, which has become a focal point of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The declaration, accompanied by a map marking the strait as U.S. territory, comes as Iran announced it would keep the strait closed. Tehran insists the closure will persist until the United States fulfills conditions of an interim agreement reached in June. These demands include lifting the blockade on Iranian ports, removing oil sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets, and ceasing U.S. military threats and operations.

Discussions between the two nations have stalled, and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz significantly impacts global energy transportation. Before the recent conflict, approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through this vital chokepoint. The disruption has already contributed to rising oil prices, with Brent crude seeing an increase.

Trump's repeated claims of U.S. control and his latest declaration of territorial status signal a further escalation in the standoff. Iran, however, rejects Washington's assertions and maintains its own control over the strait, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.