Iran Rejects Trump’s Claim Over Strait Of Hormuz, Says ‘We Will Correct This Confused Man’s Delusion’

Washington: Tension has increased further between America and Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated picture on social media, in which the strategically important Strait of Hormuz was described as "NEW U.S. Territory". This post of Trump has drawn a sharp reaction from Iran.

Iranian officials rejected Trump's claim and called it a misunderstanding. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Supreme National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaei targeted Trump's statement. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also said that there is no question of opening the Strait of Hormuz unless the US fulfils its commitments.

Why did Trump call Hormuz American territory in the AI photo?

Donald Trump posted an AI-generated photo on Truth Social on Tuesday. It showed the Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, in blue and with "NEW U.S. Territory" written in capital letters above it.

This post has come at a time when Trump is continuously talking about America's position and control over the Strait of Hormuz. A day before this, Trump had said that America has control over this waterway through blockade. He also called the idea of  declaring it an American territory a good one.

Gharibabadi also mentioned Trump's correct use of the name of the Persian Gulf in his post. The tone of his statement was quite sharp and he indicated that if Trump's thinking did not change, Iran itself would try to change it.

همانطور که ترامپ نام خلیج همیشگی فارس را به صورت صحیح نوشت، به زودی توهمش درخصوص تنگه هرمز یا اصلاح می شود یا توهمات این متوهم را اصلاح خواهیم کرد. pic.twitter.com/gpxqnGK077

— Gharibabadi (@Gharibabadi) August 18, 2026

Did Iran challenge America regarding Hormuz?

Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also attacked Trump's claim. He said that there is a huge difference between America's alleged inability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and its claim of ownership over it.

Rezai took a jibe at America and said that it welcomed a new era of post-American dominance in the Persian Gulf. His statement shows that Iran is in no mood to accept any US claims on this issue.

The gap between America’s inability to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and its claim to own it is greater than the 7,000-mile distance between Washington and the Strait itself.
Welcome to the post-American order in the Persian Gulf. pic.twitter.com/nC7VBCPILH

— محسن رضایی (@ir_rezaee) August 18, 2026

Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important sea routes in the world. This route is very important for a large part of the oil and gas passing through the Persian Gulf. For this reason, if tension increases here, there is a possibility of impact on the global energy market.

In such a situation, the increasing rhetoric between America and Iran regarding this waterway is not limited to just the two countries. Any prolonged blockage or tension in Hormuz could also impact international oil supplies and prices.