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Trump says 'no talks' with Iran, posts map showing Hormuz as 'new US territory'
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A map posted by US President Donald Trump, showing the Strait of Hormuz as a "New US Territory," August 18, 2026. (Via Truth Social)
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no talks with Iran are under way or scheduled, as he posted a map showing the Strait of Hormuz as a new American territory in a fresh jibe at Tehran.
“There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network.
A day earlier, [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-confirms-irgc-backchannel-calls-irans-white-flag-surrender) said Trump had confirmed to the network that the US had a backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and that officials in Washington were speaking directly with IRGC officials.
On Monday, the president’s senior aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner spoke of “robust” conversations between the US and Iran, while acknowledging that Tehran wasn’t yet ready to make a deal that is satisfactory to Washington.
But on Tuesday, Trump denied the talks. He also wrote that the US blockade of Iran’s ports remained in place, and claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was “open and operating,” even though ship traffic is down dramatically compared to before the war.
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Trump additionally declared that “all water mines have been removed or detonated,” though he has made a number of contradictory claims regarding whether or not mines were ever planted in the first place in the strait, a key waterway for the global supply of oil.
[](https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/08/AP26229652987694.jpg) US President Donald Trump speaks as he meets with lifeguard Ryder Williams in the Oval Office of the White House, August 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Separately, the US president posted a map on his Truth Social platform showing the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW U.S. Territory,” pressing his threat to claim sovereignty over the vital waterway.
It was unclear how serious Trump was about the move, as he has repeatedly issued sweeping threats against Tehran during the negotiation period that were not ultimately carried out.
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Iran has effectively shut down the chokepoint, through which a fifth of the world’s oil transits, in retaliation for the war Trump started along with Israel in late February.
The American leader first raised the idea of a US takeover on Friday, saying he would soon declare it to be US territory. He revisited the idea again Monday in comments to reporters in the Oval Office, suggesting it would be a good idea.
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Before the Iran war erupted on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz was an open, international waterway.
Iran says it will not reopen the strait until Washington meets a sweeping list of demands including ending the US blockade of Iran’s ports, lifting oil sanctions, freeing up frozen Iranian assets and paying war damages.
“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,” Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a speech broadcast on state television.
_AFP contributed to this report._
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- [Israel & the Region](https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-and-the-region/)
- [Donald Trump](https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/donald-trump/)
- [Iran](https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/iran/)
- [US-Iran nuclear talks](https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/us-iran-nuclear-talks/)
- [2026 US-Israel war with Iran](https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/2026-us-israel-war-with-iran/)
- [Strait of Hormuz](https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/strait-of-hormuz/)
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- [Jared Kushner](https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/jared-kushner/)
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