US President Donald Trump has intensified his confrontation with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz after posting a map on Truth Social that labelled the strategically important waterway as “new US territory”. The move came as Tehran maintained restrictions on commercial traffic through the strait and demanded that Washington fulfil commitments it says were made under an interim peace arrangement.
Trump had first publicly suggested the possibility on Friday, saying he would consider declaring the strait US territory after the conflict with Iran ended. His latest map appeared to reinforce that position and added a territorial dimension to an already tense dispute over navigation and military control.
According to Ghalibaf, Iran is seeking the lifting of the US naval blockade, removal of oil sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian assets held overseas. Tehran maintains that these commitments were part of a truce reached in June. That arrangement subsequently collapsed, leaving the two countries in a continuing confrontation.
Iran has maintained restrictions on navigation during the current confrontation, with vessels reportedly required to obtain permission and pay transit-related charges. The United States and some regional countries have rejected these arrangements and called for freedom of navigation.
Trump, meanwhile, has disputed Iran’s account of the situation. In another Truth Social post, he said there were no talks or negotiations scheduled with Tehran and maintained that the US naval blockade remained in effect. He also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was open and operating and that mines had been removed or detonated.
The dispute also raises broader questions about the legal and practical implications of any attempt to change the status of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway lies between Iran and Oman, and its use has traditionally been governed by international maritime arrangements. Any unilateral move to claim territorial control would therefore carry significant diplomatic and legal consequences and could further complicate efforts to restore regular commercial navigation.
The reported incident involving a vessel has added another layer of concern, particularly as commercial ships continue to operate in an increasingly militarised environment. Any further incidents involving merchant vessels could raise the risk of a wider confrontation and encourage more ships to avoid the route.