Washington DC5 minutes ago
US President Donald Trump has asked his negotiating team to stop talks with Iran. According to an Al Jazeera report, Trump has taken this decision until Tehran is ready for a deal.
A US official told Al Jazeera that there had been positive talks between the US and Iran so far, but Trump decided to wait before starting further discussions.
On Tuesday, Trump posted a map on social media, claiming the Strait of Hormuz as part of the US. Following Trump’s post, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that claiming the Strait of Hormuz as part of the US was merely a misunderstanding.
US President Donald Trump shared this map on social media.
Trump depicts Hormuz as ‘New American Territory’
Trump posted a graphic on Truth Social, with ‘New American Territory’ written on top. This map showed the Strait of Hormuz and the surrounding maritime area. It also showed parts of Iran, Oman, and the UAE.
Blockade continues in Hormuz
Trump said on Tuesday regarding Hormuz that the American naval blockade there is still fully in effect. Hormuz is open, and movement continues there. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that Iran will not reopen Hormuz until the US fulfills its promise.
Will Hormuz become part of America just because Trump says so?
The direct answer is – NO. The Strait of Hormuz is an international maritime route located between Iran and Oman. Ships carrying oil and gas from many countries around the world pass through this route. Therefore, no single country has exclusive rights over it.
Under international law, ships of all countries have the right to pass through this route. For this reason, no country can claim sole possession of this sea lane on its own.
Therefore, Trump’s map can be considered a political claim or message, but it does not automatically give the US any new legal rights over the Strait of Hormuz.
Who controls the Strait of Hormuz?
The northern part of the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by Iran, while the southern part borders Oman’s Musandam region. Ships exiting the Persian Gulf use this route to reach the Arabian Sea and then the Indian Ocean.
For this reason, the Strait of Hormuz is not just important for one country, but a crucial maritime route for many nations. The United States deploys its warships and naval forces here to ensure maritime trade and the security of its allied nations.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important?
Approximately 20% of the crude oil and a large amount of natural gas supplied from Gulf countries to the world pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Before the start of the US-Iran war in February, nearly 20 million barrels of oil passed through this route every day. The energy supply of countries like India, China, Japan, and South Korea largely depends on this route.
For this reason, America wants the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz to normalize as soon as possible. On the other hand, Iran has made it clear that this route will not be opened until America lifts its naval blockade and fulfills the promises made in the agreement.
