President Donald Trump posted an image labeling the Strait of Hormuz the “TRUMP STRAIT” shortly after reports emerged that he had rejected Iran’s proposed seven-day ceasefire plan.
The image appeared on Trump’s Truth Social account Friday night, roughly 30 minutes after The Wall Street Journal reported that the president had turned down Tehran’s proposal and expected U.S. strikes against Iran could resume after the November midterm elections.
The proposal would have included Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program.
In exchange, Washington would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observe a ceasefire that would extend to other areas of the regional conflict, according to the Associated Press.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that Trump rejected the plan and remains skeptical Iran would comply with American demands.
Trump has also reportedly told aides that he believes another U.S. bombing campaign against Iran is likely following the midterm elections.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the Journal’s report. Iran, meanwhile, was still publicly awaiting an official American response to its proposal on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined the proposal while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“The seven-day timeline will start as soon as the United States accepts this plan,” Araghchi told reporters Friday, according to the Associated Press.
Araghchi said the first steps could be completed within approximately four to five days.
The Strait of Hormuz would then reopen on the sixth day, while negotiations between Washington and Tehran would begin on the seventh day.
Iran communicated the proposal to the United States through Qatari mediators, Reuters reported.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major point of contention during the conflict because of its importance to international energy markets.
Before the current war, roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passed through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
Disruptions to shipping through the strait have contributed to higher oil prices and increased concerns about global energy supplies.
Trump’s Truth Social post came as the administration weighs its next steps against Tehran.
The president has previously floated the idea of renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself.
Earlier this month, Trump posted that the strait was under American control and asked whether it should be renamed the “TRUMP STRAIT,” writing that it would be “hotter” than ever, per the Daily Mail.
Friday’s post went further by displaying a map that actually labeled the waterway “Trump Strait.”
Trump has not formally renamed the Strait of Hormuz.
The post came days after Trump delivered a stark message about Iran during an appearance before the United Nations General Assembly.
Trump said he faced what he described as a major decision over whether to pursue an agreement that could allow Iran to rebuild or take further military action against the Islamic Republic.
At the same time, Iranian officials have continued pushing for a diplomatic agreement.
Araghchi said reaching an agreement before the U.S. midterm elections would be preferable, though he maintained that Tehran was not rushing Washington into accepting the proposal.
Trump has publicly suggested that Iran may wait until after the elections before reaching an agreement.
The president said earlier this week that he believed a deal could emerge after the vote, while noting that he himself is not on the ballot.
The scope of any future U.S. strikes against Iran remains unclear.
According to reporting attributed to U.S. officials, American weapons stockpiles and the need to preserve munitions for other possible conflicts are among the factors being considered before another major operation is launched.
For now, Iran continues to await Washington’s formal response as the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of negotiations between the two countries.
