Trump labels Strait of Hormuz ‘US territory’ as Iran says Israel is biggest obstacle to negotiations

US President Donald Trump has claimed the Strait of Hormuz as American territory as his frustration mounts over a war with Iran that has resisted his demands and dragged global shipping into crisis. Trump posted a map of the strategic waterway on Truth Social on Tuesday bearing the caption “New US Territory”. The provocation revived his threat last week to declare the strait American territory following an Iranian “surrender” that never came. Instead, Tehran has tied the reopening of the passage to Washington fulfilling an interim agreement, including ending its naval blockade, lifting sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets. Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Tuesday the waterway would remain closed until Washington honoured its commitments. “Let me state clearly: Until the commitments made by the United States in the memorandum of understanding, including the lifting of the blockade, the release of frozen assets, the lifting of oil sanctions, the end of threats and military operations on all fronts, and other conditions to which America agreed in the memorandum, are implemented, the strait will not be opened,” Ghalibaf said. Read more: Trump labels Strait of Hormuz ‘US territory’ as Iran says Israel is biggest obstacle to negotiations On 15 August 2026, Iran rejected the US president’s threat to declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, saying the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded 'will remain Iranian' (AFP)