Iran Labels California Its “New Territory” in Retaliation for Trump’s Hormuz Claim
Iran has responded sarcastically to US President Donald Trump’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz could become “NEW U.S. Territory” after the war, posting a map that labels California as the “NEW TERRITORY OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.”
The Iranian response came after Trump shared a map of the strategic waterway on Truth Social and reiterated earlier remarks suggesting the Strait of Hormuz could be brought under US control. The White House later reposted the message on X.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also criticized Trump, saying his comments about Hormuz reflected a delusion that would either be corrected or challenged by Iran.
The choice of California carries additional significance because the Los Angeles region has one of the largest Iranian-American communities outside Iran. Around 141,000 Iranian Americans live in Los Angeles County, according to UCLA’s Iranian Diaspora Dashboard, with Westwood widely known as “Tehrangeles.”
The exchange comes amid worsening tensions between Washington and Tehran following months of conflict. A June memorandum of understanding had aimed to end the war and establish a framework for a broader agreement, but negotiations have stalled over implementation and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and Oman have continued discussions over arrangements for reopening navigation through the strategic waterway, but no breakthrough has been reported.
