Trump suggests renaming Strait of Hormuz as ‘Trump Strait’

Washington, United States. President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself, again claiming that the waterway is under US control despite reported near-daily Iranian attacks on vessels in the area.

Proposal follows US strikes

Trump made the proposal on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the United States struck several targets in Iran, Al Jazeera reported. The attack killed at least four people, including two children, at a wedding in the southern city of Sirik.

“Now that we have it under USA control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???” Trump wrote in a social media post. “Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!”

Iran responded to Tuesday’s attack with missile launches against US bases in the region, according to Al Jazeera. The fighting pushed oil prices up by around 4 per cent.

Conflicting claims over waterway

US officials have repeatedly said the Strait of Hormuz is open and that millions of barrels of oil pass through it daily. However, oil prices have not fallen in recent weeks, while Iran continues to say the waterway is closed and remains under its control.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday accused Iran of striking an oil tanker, killing two people. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a monitoring agency affiliated with the British Royal Navy, has reported attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz almost every day, Al Jazeera said.

In the United States, petrol reached $4.12 per gallon, or 3.8 litres, on Wednesday, according to the American Automobile Association. The price was below $3 before the war began on February 28.

Conflict enters seventh month

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began the conflict earlier this year by attacking Iran and killing its supreme leader, Al Jazeera reported. Trump had said the war would last six weeks, but the conflict entered its seventh month last week.

Trump has continued to claim victory and control over the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran has been defeated militarily despite its continued ability to strike US interests in the region.

Following Tuesday’s US strikes, Trump warned Tehran that it would be hit again “at a much harder and higher level” if it retaliated. Within hours, Iran’s military fired missiles and drones at US bases in Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq, according to Al Jazeera.

Previous territorial claims

The proposed name change follows earlier statements by Trump asserting control over the waterway. Last month, he said he viewed the Strait of Hormuz as American territory.

Last week, Trump unilaterally renamed Lake Ontario, which borders the United States and Canada, as Lake America amid continuing trade disagreements with Canada.