US President Donald Trump on Friday posted a map on Truth Social depicting the Strait of Hormuz as “Trump Strait.”
Trump vowed that Iran would never acquire a nuclear bomb, expressed scepticism that Tehran would meet his demands and said a renewed US bombing campaign remained likely, according to The Washington Post. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier said normal maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz could be restored within seven days if Washington accepted Tehran’s conditions. The choice now rests with the United States,” Araghchi said. We have total control over the Strait,” Trump said. Before the war, about a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas passed through the strategic waterway, according to the Washington Post report.
This comes after Trump reportedly rejected Iran’s seven-day framework offer for reopening the strait and resuming negotiations over its nuclear programme. Under the proposal, the US would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observe a ceasefire that includes Lebanon. “If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, a normal maritime passage restored within seven days. “I think it’s a great idea. I mean, we control it with the blockade. I like the idea of declaring it a territory. Disruptions to shipping have affected energy markets and increased pressure on the Trump administration ahead of the US midterm elections.
