Trump Claims Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Territory

Trump posted a map on Truth Social Tuesday labeling the Strait of Hormuz 'new US territory.' He called the idea of formally declaring it a US territory 'great' after being pressed by reporters Monday in the Oval Office.

• Strait crossings fell nearly 20% over the past week, per shipping data from Kpler.
• Brent crude topped $90 per barrel; the national gas average reached $4.06.
• Trump shook his head and declined when asked about extending the MoU with Iran.
• Trump threatened to 'bomb the s*** out of' Oman if it impedes the strait's full reopening.

Why it matters: Control of the Strait of Hormuz is the central flashpoint in the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Before the war, one-fifth of the world's oil moved through the waterway.

• The 60-day MoU negotiation window expired Monday with no permanent deal in place.
• Iran and Oman are separately negotiating a deal that Tehran says would reinforce Iranian control over much of the strait.

How 40 sources split on this story

Where they split: Coverage divides on whether Trump's territorial claim reflects a serious policy intent or amounts to unsupported rhetoric with no clear legal or military path.

What’s next: Qatar's foreign ministry says a US-Iran resumption depends first on an Iran-Oman Hormuz agreement.

• Iran's deputy foreign minister called Trump's claim 'fanciful delusions' and said the strait remains under Iranian command.
• What legal or military mechanism would the US use to formally claim the Strait of Hormuz as territory?
• How would US allies and international bodies respond to a formal annexation claim over a waterway bordering two sovereign nations?
• Will the Iran-Oman bilateral deal hold, and would it satisfy Trump's conditions for reopening the strait?