What is the story about?
President Donald Trump wants to lay down a marker everywhere, with his picture on US passports yesterday and his name in the Strait of Hormuz today.
Trump reposted an image on his Truth Social account, which depicted the words "Strait of Trump" on a map of the waterway. The image is originally shared by an account called "IStandWithTrump47".
This is not the first time the president has tried to stake a claim over the Strait of Hormuz, as it becomes a point of contention between the US and Iran, and stalls ceasefire talks. Earlier, in an apparent gaffe, Trump said Iran has to “open up the Strait of Trump — I mean, Hormuz.” He added, "Excuse me. I’m so sorry. Such a terrible mistake. The fake news will say, ‘He accidentally said’ — No, there’s no accidents with me, not too many. If there were, we’d have a major story.”
The development comes as Trump said that a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices to spike to their highest level in more than four years which held into Thursday.
Meeting oil executives, Trump contended that the blockade of Iranian ports -- which Tehran has demanded must end before any deal -- was more effective than bombing.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday on X that it had reached a "significant milestone after successfully redirecting the 42nd commercial vessel attempting to violate the blockade."
It said there are "41 tankers with 69 million barrels of oil that the Iranian regime can't sell," estimating the value to more than $6 billion.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker and lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has urged Iranians to maintain unity as he warned that the US is trying to “force Tehran into surrender” by creating economic pressure.
In a statement made to Iranian media, Ghalibaf said that adversaries within Iran are trying to weaken the country through what he described as “siege tactics and media manipulation.”
Trump reposted an image on his Truth Social account, which depicted the words "Strait of Trump" on a map of the waterway. The image is originally shared by an account called "IStandWithTrump47".
This is not the first time the president has tried to stake a claim over the Strait of Hormuz, as it becomes a point of contention between the US and Iran, and stalls ceasefire talks. Earlier, in an apparent gaffe, Trump said Iran has to “open up the Strait of Trump — I mean, Hormuz.” He added, "Excuse me. I’m so sorry. Such a terrible mistake. The fake news will say, ‘He accidentally said’ — No, there’s no accidents with me, not too many. If there were, we’d have a major story.”
Trump warns blockade could extend
The development comes as Trump said that a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices to spike to their highest level in more than four years which held into Thursday.
Meeting oil executives, Trump contended that the blockade of Iranian ports -- which Tehran has demanded must end before any deal -- was more effective than bombing.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Wednesday on X that it had reached a "significant milestone after successfully redirecting the 42nd commercial vessel attempting to violate the blockade."
It said there are "41 tankers with 69 million barrels of oil that the Iranian regime can't sell," estimating the value to more than $6 billion.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker and lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has urged Iranians to maintain unity as he warned that the US is trying to “force Tehran into surrender” by creating economic pressure.
In a statement made to Iranian media, Ghalibaf said that adversaries within Iran are trying to weaken the country through what he described as “siege tactics and media manipulation.”
