Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz “New US Territory”
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Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz "New US Territory"
- On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, former US President Donald Trump posted an image on his social media platform, Truth Social, depicting the Strait of Hormuz labeled as "NEW US Territory," reiterating his intent to claim sovereignty over the crucial waterway.
- This declaration follows a previous statement by Trump on Friday, August 14, 2026, where he first publicly suggested the annexation of the strait, a move that Iranian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, have called a "delusion."
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Former President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric regarding the Strait of Hormuz, posting a map on Truth Social on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, that labeled the strategic waterway as “NEW US Territory.” This action reinforces his earlier threats to annex the strait, first made public on Friday, August 14, 2026. Trump’s pronouncements come amidst ongoing tensions and a naval blockade enforced by the US in the strait following a conflict that began in late February.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is considered one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints. In 2022, approximately 21 million barrels of oil per day, or about 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption, flowed through the strait. It is also a major route for liquefied natural gas. The strait is bordered by Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south.
Under international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Strait of Hormuz is classified as an international strait, granting all vessels the right of transit passage. While Iran is a signatory to UNCLOS, it has not ratified it and maintains that the transit passage regime does not constitute customary international law. Legal experts contend that a unilateral declaration by the United States cannot extinguish the sovereignty of Iran or Oman over their territorial waters in the strait.
Iranian officials have strongly condemned Trump’s threats, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stating that the strait “will remain Iranian” and dismissing Trump’s claims as “delusions.” Iran has also maintained that the strait will not be reopened for commercial shipping until the US meets a list of demands, including ending the US blockade, lifting oil sanctions, freeing frozen Iranian assets, and paying war damages. This is not the first time Trump has suggested annexing foreign territories, having previously mentioned Greenland, the Panama Canal, Canada, and even parts of Venezuela and Gaza.