News Peg
Trump posted the map hours after Iranian leaders said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the U.S. gave up several key concessions in negotiations. These include lifting the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports, releasing Iranian frozen assets, removing oil sanctions and ending military operations “on all fronts,” according to remarks from Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Shortly after posting the map, Trump insisted in a new post there were “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” insisting that the Strait was now “open and operating” and “all water mines have been removed or detonated.”
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Crucial Quote
“I like the idea of declaring it a territory,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “We have total control over the Strait. Now they can be a nuisance, they can put a mine in the water, and people don’t like having mines at their billion dollar ships… but the blockade has been very effective.” The president then claimed “we are taking out millions of barrels of oil a week,” and that “the oil prices are coming down, and they will continue to come down unless we decide to do something far more drastic than what we’re doing.” By Tuesday morning, Brent crude oil futures were trading over $91 per barrel, its highest price since July.
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Further Reading
ForbesIran Says Hormuz Will Stay Shut Until U.S. Lifts Sanctions And Blockade—As Deadline Passes For Peace DealBy Siladitya Ray
ForbesIran Tells Trump: ‘Accept The Reality’ He Can’t Make Strait Of Hormuz U.S. TerritoryBy Sara DornForbesTrump Reportedly Threatens He’ll ‘Bomb The S— Out Of’ Oman If It Disrupts Iran OperationsBy Sara Dorn