President Trump on Wednesday again claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was under US “control” and suggested he may rename it the “Trump Strait,” comments that came as Iran’s IRGC said that two tankers attempting to cross the strait hit Iranian mines.
“Now that we have it under USA. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
While Trump has repeatedly claimed the US has full control of the strait, Iran has continued to strike ships in the area, and US launched extensive airstrikes along Iran’s southern coast on Tuesday that were meant to degrade Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping. The attacks also killed 18 people, including five attending a wedding in the southern city of Kuhestan, according to Iranian officials.
The IRGC said in a statement on Wednesday that the two ships it said hit mines in the strait were “deceived” by the US into attempting to make the crossing. “Two oil tankers that had been deceived by the US military were stopped after hitting mines and exploding, and are now burning,” the statement said, according to Iran’s PressTV.
“Additional punishments have been envisaged for shipping companies that, instead of following legal routes, are deceived by the Americans, and these measures will soon be implemented,” the IRGC added.
Also on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia condemned what it called an Iranian attack on a Saudi-owned tanker that killed two Filipino crew members. The vessel was struck by a projectile on Monday night off the coast of Oman, and a South Korean tanker was hit in the same area.
