Trump posts map labeling Strait of Hormuz as 'New US Territory'

On the day after a Memorandum of Understanding deadline lapsed, US President Donald Trump asserted that the Strait of Hormuz would become a new US territory in a post on Truth Social. Reporters inquired during a Monday Oval Office meeting whether Trump planned to declare the strategic waterway as such. Trump concurred, stating that "we control it through the blockade" and expressing his preference for designating it as US territory.

He cited the impact of the US military's naval blockade, noting that "we're taking out millions of barrels of oil a week. If you look at the numbers we're getting, the strait is open, oil prices are going down, and they'll continue to go down, unless we decide to do something much more drastic than what we're doing now."

In response to queries about potential negotiations with Iran, Trump stated that Tehran was interested in a deal but unlikely to agree to terms he deemed acceptable. He added that the recent use of B-2 bombers would prolong Iran's nuclear weapon development timeline. When asked about extending the MoU, Trump refrained from a direct answer and shook his head no. Dr. Majed al Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, indicated on Tuesday that mediators were awaiting a bilateral agreement between Oman and Iran before resuming broader talks between the US and Iran.

He emphasized that reaching an accord on the Strait of Hormuz would simplify the resumption of discussions.