US President Donald Trump has shared a social media post suggesting that the Strait of Hormuz could be renamed after him. Along with the post, he circulated a map labeling the waterway as the “Trump Strait,” triggering widespread online mockery.
The development comes amid heightened tensions after the US and Israel carried out attacks on Iran, following which Iran moved to restrict the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most important routes for crude oil trade. Iran’s parliament has approved collecting fees from ships using the passage, a move opposed by the US and other countries.
International objections have focused on the claim that such collections are illegal, with concerns that normal maritime traffic through the corridor has been disrupted.
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. It is strategically vital for oil-producing nations such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The strait is extremely narrow: at its tightest point it is about 33 km wide, while the designated shipping lanes are only around 3 km across. Roughly 20% of global oil exports pass through this route, and the name “Hormuz” is derived from an ancient port city that was influential in the region between the 13th and 16th centuries.
