Trump posts map calling the Strait of Hormuz a "New territory of the US"
Trump posted a map on Truth Social marking the Strait of Hormuz inside a blue circle and labelling it "New territory of the US," a claim that would conflict with Iran's and Oman's territorial waters.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump published a map on his Truth Social account that highlights the Strait of Hormuz and labels the waterway "New territory of the US." The graphic shows the passage inside a large blue circle with the caption asserting U.S. sovereignty over the route.
Reaction-ready declaration
The Strait of Hormuz lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and experts say any U.S. claim over the channel would raise immediate legal and diplomatic challenges. The map post gives no legal explanation or timetable for how such a designation would be enforced.
Trump first floated the idea of annexing the strait at an event on Friday, telling attendees that he would declare the sea route U.S. territory "soon." The remark and the subsequent social-media graphic mark an escalation in rhetoric about control of a strategically vital maritime chokepoint.
International law generally recognises coastal states' rights in territorial waters, and observers note that unilateral seizure or annexation of a navigational corridor would be unprecedented in modern maritime practice. Political and military experts say the proposal — if acted upon — could provoke confrontations with regional powers and allied nations that depend on unhindered passage through the strait.
The post did not include further details about the legal basis, any planned executive action, or a timeline for implementation. Officials in Washington, Tehran and Muscat had not released immediate statements responding to the map at the time of the post.
Photo: press material from the event
