---
title: "Donald Trump Declares Strait Of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’ As Iran Keeps Waterway"  
description: "real as a reported statement/image, but the headline is misleading if it means Trump legally annexed the Strait of Hormuz."  
author: "Manish Kumar"  
published: 2026-08-18  
updated: 2026-08-18  
canonical: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/88654/donald-trump-declares-strait-of-hormuz-new-us-territory-as-iran-keeps-waterway  
category: "international"  
tags: ["international"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Donald Trump Declares Strait Of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’ As Iran Keeps Waterway

This is **real as a reported statement/image, but the headline is misleading if it means Trump legally annexed the Strait of Hormuz**.

- On **August 18, 2026**, Donald Trump posted an image on Truth Social depicting the Strait of Hormuz with the label **“**[**NEW U.S. Territory.**](https://www.news18.com/videos/breaking-news/trump-claims-strait-of-hormuz-as-new-u-s-territory-iran-fires-back-us-iran-crisis-news18-10281382.html)**”**
- Trump had previously said that, after defeating Iran, he would declare the strait U.S. territory.
- **There has been no recognized legal annexation of the Strait of Hormuz by the United States.** The post is a political/territorial claim, not by itself a change in international sovereignty.
- Iran has rejected the claim. Deputy Foreign Minister [Kazem Gharibabadi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazem_Gharibabadi) warned that Trump's assertion would either be corrected or face an Iranian response.
- Trump has simultaneously claimed that the strait is open and that U.S. naval forces have cleared mines, while reports say Iran continues to effectively restrict traffic through the waterway.

### Why this is extremely significant

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy chokepoints. A prolonged shutdown or military confrontation there can disrupt oil and LNG shipments and push energy prices sharply higher. The territorial claim also turns an already dangerous **U.S.–Iran confrontation into a dispute over control of an international waterway**.

And in the context of the UAE's reported suspension of trade with Iran today, this represents a **much broader escalation across the Gulf**, rather than an isolated diplomatic dispute.

**Bottom line:** Trump has publicly **claimed/depicted** Hormuz as “new U.S. territory”; he has **not legally converted it into U.S. territory**.

---

Original Source: https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/88654/donald-trump-declares-strait-of-hormuz-new-us-territory-as-iran-keeps-waterway

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