Trump Labels Strait of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’ Amid Iran Tensions

US President Donald Trump has declared the strategically important Strait of Hormuz a “new US territory” in a social media post, escalating the confrontation between Washington and Tehran over control of the vital waterway.

Trump on Tuesday shared a map on Truth Social, his social media platform, showing the strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman highlighted in blue and labelled “NEW U.S. Territory”.

The same graphic was subsequently published by the official White House account on X.

The post comes days after Trump said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory after the United States defeated Iran.

Speaking at a political rally in New York State on Friday, Trump said the declaration would follow the conclusion of the conflict with Iran.

“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated — pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” he said.

“It’s true,” Trump added.

He had previously described the proposal as “a great idea” and “an excellent idea”, citing the presence of US naval forces and the blockade imposed in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most important energy routes, with roughly 20 per cent of global oil and gas supplies typically passing through the narrow waterway.

The latest development comes amid an escalating standoff between the United States and Iran over the strait.

Iran has restricted access to large parts of the waterway, while the US Navy maintains a blockade of Iranian ports as tensions between the two countries continue.

Trump had earlier said the United States controlled access to the route.

“We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to,” he said.

Iranian officials, however, have rejected any suggestion that Washington could exercise territorial control over the waterway.

Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Ghalibaf, and other officials have maintained that the strait would remain closed or under Iranian authority until the United States lifts its blockade, eases related sanctions and fulfils other commitments.

Iran has also dismissed any attempt to establish control over the strategic waterway through social media declarations or military assertions.

The Strait of Hormuz has long been regarded as a critical global energy chokepoint because of the volume of oil and gas transported through it, making any disruption to traffic a potential source of wider economic and geopolitical consequences.