Trump labels Strait of Hormuz ‘US territory’ as Iran says Israel is biggest obstacle to negotiations
Trump labels Strait of Hormuz ‘US territory’ as Iran says Israel is biggest obstacle to negotiations Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Tue, 08/18/2026 - 13:21 Tehran says the waterway will remain closed until Washington lifts its blockade and fulfils an interim agreement On 15 August 2026, Iran rejected the US president’s threat to declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, saying the crucial…
On August 18, 2026, US President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz as part of US territory, amid escalating tensions with Iran. The strategic waterway, a critical energy corridor, had been blockaded by Iran, leading to a crisis in global shipping. Trump posted a map of the strait on his social media platform, Truth Social, with the caption "New US Territory," amplifying his frustration over Iran's failure to comply with his demands.
In response, Iranian officials rejected Trump's claim, stating that the strait would remain closed until Washington lifted its blockade, fulfilled an interim agreement, and released frozen Iranian assets. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that the strait would not reopen until all US commitments were met, including the lifting of sanctions and military operations.
Meanwhile, Israel emerged as the primary obstacle to negotiations, blocking over 90% of traffic through the strait. In a separate development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of hindering the implementation of the memorandum of understanding and derailing efforts to reach a peaceful resolution.
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Also reported by 9 other outlets
- Trump labels Strait of Hormuz ‘US territory’ as Iran says Israel is biggest obstacle to negotiations middleeasteye.net
- Trump posts map showing Strait of Hormuz as US territory nst.com.my
- Trump says no Iran talks planned, claims Hormuz 'new US territory' koreatimes.co.kr
- Trump labels Hormuz ‘new US territory’ dailytimes.com.pk
- U.S., Iran each dig in on Strait of Hormuz positions as their tenuous pact officially expires cbc.ca
- U.S. and Canada hold last-minute negotiations to prevent Trump's 50% tariffs pbs.org
- Iran to Keep Strait of Hormuz Closed Until US Meets Peace Commitments en.tempo.co
- Strait of Hormuz won’t reopen until U.S. meets demands: Iran torontosun.com
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