‘If Hormuz is yours, California is ours’: Iran hits back at Trump
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Tehran: Iran has responded in kind to US President Donald Trump after he reportedly declared the strategically important Strait of Hormuz a new territory of the United States. In a retaliatory move, Iran declared the US state of California its “new territory”.
The development is being seen as a sign of further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Trump had earlier claimed that the Strait of Hormuz would come under US control following the war. He subsequently shared a map on his Truth Social account depicting the Strait of Hormuz as a “new US territory”. The controversial post was later reposted by the White House's official X account.
In response, Iran's official X account in Hyderabad shared a map of the United States, marking California separately in blue and describing it as the “new territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Trump's “misconceptions” regarding the Strait of Hormuz would soon be corrected, adding that Iran would correct “this deluded person” if necessary.
Iran also has another reason for highlighting California, particularly Los Angeles, as its territory. The region is home to one of the largest populations of people of Iranian origin outside Iran. Studies suggest that around 141,000 Iranian Americans live in Los Angeles County alone. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, many Iranians migrated to the area, and the influence of the community has led to the Westwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles being popularly known as “Tehrangeles”.
The latest war of words comes amid tensions between the United States and Iran that have persisted for months. Although the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in June to end the war, negotiations have reportedly stalled due to continuing disagreements over issues including shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Talks between Iran and Oman on security in the strategically important waterway are also continuing, but no major decisions have yet been reached.