US President Donald Trump has shared a map on his Truth Social platform that labels the Strait of Hormuz as a 'new US territory', prompting a swift response from Iran. The graphic, which appears to be a rough rendering of Iran and surrounding waters, includes a red, white, and blue star-spangled banner over the Strait of Hormuz, with the text 'NEW U.S. Territory'. The post comes as the 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran expires today.
Iran responds to Trump's map
Iran has already pushed back against the attempted renaming. Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi said: 'Just as Trump spelt the name of the Persian Gulf correctly, his illusion about the Strait of Hormuz will soon be corrected.' The Iranian military announced this weekend that it would offer $30,000 for anyone who kills or kidnaps US soldiers in the region, with a bounty of $60,000 if a woman does so. This comes even as there are no ground deployments of US soldiers in Iran – only continued air strikes.
War continues as peace talks falter
As the war continues through its fifth month, solutions for peace between the two nations are looking less likely. Trump has been ramping up his threats against Iran this week, having threatened to bomb another country if the nation became involved in his war. Speaking to Fox News' Trey Yingst, Trump said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had established a back channel with his administration to continue peace talks. Trump added: 'They're good poker players, but they're dying. I have no time schedule. I'm not in a hurry.'
Oman threatened over Strait negotiations
The President also spoke about Oman, which has been involved in negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He had more choice words for the nation, telling reporters: 'If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s*** out of them.' The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil shipments, and its closure would have significant economic repercussions. The expiry of the ceasefire today raises the stakes for further military action in the region.
