Donald Trump has shared an image on Truth Social labeling the Strait of Hormuz a "new US territory," escalating his rhetoric over the strategic waterway.
The image, posted on Trump's social media accounts, shows a map of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, with the strait circled and marked with a label declaring it a 'NEW U.S. Territory' overlaid on a red, white and blue star-spangled graphic.
Escalating rhetoric
The post follows comments made by Trump at a speech in New York last week, where he floated the idea of annexing the waterway, telling attendees it would become a US territory "pretty soon."
"After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States," Trump told those in attendance.
When asked about the remarks in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump doubled down, claiming the US already controls the disputed waterway. "We control it with the blockade, and I like the idea of declaring it a territory," he told reporters. "They can be a nuisance," he added, referring to Iran. "They can put a mine in the water and people don’t like having mines hit their billion dollar ships."
Iranian response
Prior to his speech on Friday, Trump told Fox News: "We totally control, we own, in the true sense, we own the Strait of Hormuz," adding that "we only allow boats to come in if we want them to come in."
Iranian officials have hit back at the move. Deputy Foreign Ministry Gharibabadi wrote on X: "The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power."
Speaking directly to Trump, he added: "Once and for all, accept the reality: up to this point, you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade."
Military escalation
The Iranian military this week offered a bounty of $30,000 to anyone who kills or kidnaps soldiers in the region, with the price doubling to $60,000 for any woman who manages the feat.
The escalation comes as the 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran ends today.
