Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has once again published an image of a map of the Strait of Hormuz on his social media platform, Truth Social, in which the waterway is designated as “New U.S. Territory.” In the image, the Strait of Hormuz is listed alongside territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Trump had previously stated in a speech that, following the defeat of the Islamic Republic, he intended to convert the Strait of Hormuz into a “U.S. territory.” In subsequent days, he also spoke of American forces controlling the waterway and maintaining the naval blockade of the Islamic Republic.
The republication of this image comes amid the continued U.S. military presence in the Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s efforts to open maritime shipping routes through the waterway.
CENTCOM announced that U.S. forces have completed naval mine-clearing operations in international shipping lanes. According to published reports, these operations have enabled the passage of nearly 1,500 commercial vessels.
Reuters also reported that despite the mine-sweeping operations and U.S. efforts to facilitate maritime traffic, vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below normal levels. In recent days, diplomatic efforts to restore shipping to normal conditions have intensified, with Iran engaging in discussions mediated by Qatar and consulting with Oman regarding conditions for reopening the route.
