International

Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’ on Truth Social as Iran Vows to Keep Waterway Closed

Published

2 months ago

August 18, 2026

Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’ on Truth Social as Iran Vows to Keep Waterway Closed

United States President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Iran by posting an image on his social media platform, Truth Social, that labels the strategic Strait of Hormuz as “NEW U.S. TERRITORY.” The graphic, posted on Tuesday, shows a map of the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, with the strait circled beneath a banner reading “NEW U.S. TERRITORY.” The provocative post comes just days after Trump first raised the idea of a US takeover, saying at a political rally in New York state that “pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.” Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of American control over Hormuz since the conflict began, earlier proposing a 20 per cent fee on all cargo shipped through the strait under what he described as the United States’ role as “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait.” The UN shipping agency said it strongly opposed any such fees and that there was no legal mechanism to impose them. The claim has no basis in international law. The Strait of Hormuz lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and is governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees the right of transit passage through international straits to all nations. However, legal experts note that neither Iran nor the United States is a party to the convention, stripping those provisions of binding force in this context, creating a legal vacuum where the principle of “transit passage” cannot be invoked legally.

Iranian officials have reacted swiftly and forcefully to Trump’s latest provocation. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, dismissed Trump’s comment as a “delusion,” warning that Tehran would “correct the delusions of this deluded man.” “The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Gharibabadi said on X. “This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command.” In a separate post, Gharibabadi also drew attention to the fact that Trump had “correctly” written the name of the “eternal Persian Gulf” rather than using the term “Arabian Gulf” preferred by US-allied Arab states. “Soon, his mistake regarding the Strait of Hormuz will either be corrected, or we will correct the delusions of this man who lives in illusions,” he wrote.

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Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator, told parliament on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets Tehran’s demands. “I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding are implemented,” Ghalibaf said. Tehran’s four conditions include lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, lifting oil sanctions, freeing up frozen Iranian assets abroad, and ending military threats and operations on all fronts. These conditions were outlined in a June 17 memorandum of understanding signed by both parties, which set a 60-day timeframe for a final peace agreement. However, the process quickly stalled over disagreements about control of the Strait of Hormuz, and Trump declared the agreement “over” on July 7.

The US president has also threatened to bomb Oman if the Gulf state interferes with American efforts over the strait. In a phone interview with Fox News, Trump said that if “Oman gets in the way we’ll bomb the s— out of them.” The threat came as Iran and Oman have been negotiating an agreement on managing the strait, with Tehran saying the two sides had reached an understanding on the route that ships would use. Trump later addressed the remarks while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, saying of Oman: “I don’t think they behaved very well, but we’d handle them very easily, just like we do other things.” Oman, through whose territorial waters the contested Strait of Hormuz also flows, has positioned itself as a neutral party in the US-Iran war and is currently negotiating with Iran over the reopening of the critical waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, through which roughly 20 per cent of the global oil and gas supply normally passes. Before the war, approximately 110 ships passed through the waterway daily. Since the US-Israel-Iran war began on February 28, traffic through the strait has fallen dramatically. Only one ship crossed the Strait of Hormuz on August 16, down from eight ships on August 15 and marking a record low, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea. The average number of ships transiting the strait over the last week was about 12 vessels per day, down from more than 130 a day before the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The closure of Hormuz has driven up energy prices, creating a political headache for Trump as November’s midterm elections near. The national average price of gasoline in the United States have been at their highest recorded levels for the month of August, according to the AAA motor club, while Brent crude was at about $91 a barrel, up from $72 just before the start of the war.

Maritime law experts have questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s claim. Jason Chuah, Professor of Maritime Law at City, University of London, told CNN that a US claim to the territory could not be established simply through a presidential declaration. “Under US law, claiming territory by a Presidential declaration is not enough. There are important constitutional requirements that must be cleared first,” Chuah said. “Under international law, annexation is contrary to the United Nations Charter. Territories including bodies of water can only be taken through agreement or cession.” Simon Baughen, Professor of Shipping Law at Swansea University, said Washington’s claim over the strait was highly unlikely to ever come to fruition, describing such a scenario as “very unlikely.” Chuah stressed that neither Iran nor Oman has unrestricted rights over the entire Strait of Hormuz. “Freedom of navigation prevails. That is the law,” he said. “The Strait is neither Iranian property nor Omani property in the ordinary sense of a piece of real estate. It is sovereign territory very much subject to an international regime of maritime navigation.” “A navy can control a waterway. It cannot, merely by controlling it, rewrite the law of title.”

Trump Declares Strait of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’ on Truth Social as Iran Vows to Keep Waterway Closed

Related Topics:Iran Strait of Hormuz US Territory

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International

400 French Schools Shut as Students Protest Teacher Shortages, Poor Facilities

Published

5 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

400 French Schools Shut as Students Protest Teacher Shortages, Poor Facilities

Students across France have staged demonstrations over what they describe as deteriorating conditions in the country’s public schools, including overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, poor facilities and inadequate funding.

The protests, which began in the Paris region, have spread to several cities, including Marseille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille, Rennes and Toulouse, disrupting activities in hundreds of schools.

Students have blocked school entrances and staged demonstrations outside their schools, while some protests have escalated into clashes with police, vandalism and fires.

Authorities said the unrest had affected more than 1,000 high schools, with about 400 schools expected to remain closed because of blockades or damage.

The students’ complaints centre on several issues affecting their daily learning experience. They have reported classrooms with as many as 35 to 40 students, shortages of teachers and other school staff, damaged buildings and inadequate classroom facilities.

Some students have also complained about long school days, staff absences and periods without teachers for particular subjects.

At some schools, students and parents have raised concerns about the condition of buildings, including leaks and other maintenance problems. Complaints have also been made about uncomfortable classroom temperatures during periods of hot weather.

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The demonstrations have, however, been accompanied by incidents of violence and vandalism in some locations. Police have reported confrontations with protesters, while some school entrances and surrounding property have been damaged.

France’s Education Ministry said 65 education workers, including 40 school heads, had been injured during the unrest. Police officers have also sustained injuries in some clashes.

French authorities said more than 2,000 people had been arrested since the protests began, with most of those detained reported to be teenagers.

The government has acknowledged concerns about school conditions and education resources, while condemning acts of violence and destruction. Officials have also warned that violent groups could exploit the demonstrations.

Education Minister Édouard Geffray has announced plans for discussions involving students, teachers’ unions and parents to address concerns raised during the protests.

The unrest has also brought attention to France’s proposed 2027 education budget. The planned allocation is expected to increase by 1.7 per cent to about €65.53 billion, excluding teacher pensions, although the increase is below the current inflation rate.

Teachers’ unions have separately announced a nationwide strike, adding pressure on the government to address concerns over staffing, working conditions and education funding.

While students have continued to demand improvements in their schools, the authorities are working to restore normal operations in affected institutions and prevent further violence.

The protests have placed France’s education system under renewed scrutiny, with the availability of teachers, classroom sizes, school infrastructure and education funding emerging as central issues in the dispute.

400 French Schools Shut as Students Protest Teacher Shortages, Poor Facilities

International

Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Very Hard’ Response Over Flydubai Attack

Published

14 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Very Hard’ Response Over Flydubai Attack

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face a “very hard” response if investigators establish that Tehran was connected to the attempted attack on a Flydubai passenger aircraft bound for Israel.

Trump made the statement on Thursday as authorities continued investigating the motive behind the Flydubai cockpit attack, in which the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and caused the aircraft to plunge thousands of feet before passengers and other crew members intervened.

Asked at the White House whether the co-pilot had links to Iran, Trump indicated that investigators were examining the possibility.

“Based on what I’m hearing, yes,” Trump said, while stressing that the matter was still being investigated. He later warned that Iran would be hit “very hard” if Tehran was found to have been involved.

The incident occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, Israel, on September 30.

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The aircraft was carrying more than 170 passengers when the co-pilot, identified by Israeli authorities as an Omani national, allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit. The aircraft then entered a steep descent, dropping more than 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds, according to reports.

The injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and overpower the co-pilot. Passengers and crew then helped stabilise the aircraft, while reserve pilots aboard the flight took control.

The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the injured captain received medical attention and the suspect was taken into custody.

The incident has generated competing assessments over the possible motive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the co-pilot appeared to have been radicalised, but he also indicated that it was too early to determine whether Iran was involved.

The United Arab Emirates has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, including whether it involved terrorism, prior planning or direction from an outside actor. Authorities have yet to publicly establish an Iranian role.

Reuters reported that the motive remained unclear, while investigators from several countries were examining the incident. Flydubai has also suspended its flights between Dubai and Israel as investigations continue. (Reuters)

The incident comes amid heightened US-Iran tensions, with Washington already increasing its military presence in the Middle East. Trump’s warning has therefore added to concerns that confirmation of an Iranian connection could trigger further escalation.

For now, however, the alleged Iran-Flydubai link remains under investigation, and no publicly released evidence has established that Tehran directed or supported the cockpit attack. (AP News)

Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Very Hard’ Response Over Flydubai Attack

International

Israeli Actor, Flight Instructor Among Two Killed In California Plane Crash

Published

2 days ago

September 30, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Actor, Flight Instructor Among Two Killed In California Plane Crash

Israeli actor and flight instructor Guy Kapulnik, 46, and his passenger, Taylor Laska, 33, have died after a light aircraft crashed into a field in California, United States.

The fatal crash occurred on Thursday, September 24, 2026, near Hesperia in San Bernardino County.

Emergency responders were alerted to the crash shortly before 10am after the small aircraft went down in an open field.

Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

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The aircraft, identified as a single-engine Aeronca 7AC Champion, crashed near Summit Valley Road and Telephone Canyon Road, about three miles from Hesperia Airport.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but the cause of the crash had not been established as of Wednesday.

Kapulnik was not only a pilot and flight instructor but also an actor who appeared in several Israeli and international film productions.

He trained at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem before building a career in the entertainment industry. His acting credits included Room 514, Salsa Tel Aviv, Watch Over Me and Lebanon.

After moving to Los Angeles, Kapulnik continued acting while pursuing his passion for aviation. He obtained his pilot’s licence and later became a certified flight instructor.

His aviation career saw him teach aspiring pilots, with friends and former students describing him as passionate about flying and committed to helping others learn.

Kapulnik had also previously served as an officer in Israel’s elite Unit 669, a specialised search-and-rescue unit.

His death has triggered an outpouring of tributes from friends, colleagues and people who knew him through aviation and acting.

Those who knew him remembered him as an adventurous and energetic man who pursued several passions throughout his life, including acting, flying and life at sea.

The passenger, Laska, was also killed in the crash.

Investigators from the relevant aviation authorities are continuing to examine the wreckage and circumstances surrounding the incident to determine what caused the aircraft to crash.

Kapulnik’s funeral is expected to take place in Israel.