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Washington: US President Donald Trump (Trump’s ) shared an image depicting an altered map. In this map, the name ‘Strait of Hormuz’ had been changed to ‘Strait of Trump.’ Trump posted this image on his social media platform, Truth Social, without any accompanying caption. The image was originally shared by an account named ‘IStandWithTrump47,’ which had replaced the waterway’s actual name with ‘Strait of Trump.’ The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow yet vital maritime passage through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments pass.
Trump Has Made Similar Remarks Before
This is not the first time Trump has referred to the Strait of Hormuz as the ‘Strait of Trump.’ On March 27, while appealing for the reopening of this waterway as part of a potential peace agreement with Iran, Trump used this phrase while speaking at the Saudi-backed FII Priority Investment Forum in Miami. Trump stated, “We are currently in talks, and if we can achieve something, it would be excellent; however, they simply must open it.” He added, “They have to open the ‘Strait of Trump’—I mean, Hormuz. My apologies; I am terribly sorry. What a massive blunder that was.” During this instance, Trump also remarked that the media would undoubtedly sensationalize this comment of his, but he added, “With me, nothing happens by coincidence—or at least, very rarely.”
Naval Blockade and Rising Oil Prices
This reshared image surfaced at a time when Trump stated that the US naval blockade against Iran could potentially last for months. As a result of this remark, oil prices have surged to their highest levels in over four years. Political pressure on Trump to bring an end to the conflict is mounting steadily.
What is Iran’s Stance?
Meanwhile, Iran’s top leadership has termed the US administration’s alleged naval blockade strategy as both futile and deceptive, stating that it will neither exert pressure on Iran nor bring about stability in the region. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asserted that any form of maritime blockade violates international law and is bound to fail. Mohsen Rezaei, the Military Advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, stated that Iran will now [counter] the US blockade…
