President Donald Trump mocked Iran by sharing an image labeled the “Trump Strait,” shortly after rejecting a proposed seven-day ceasefire and telling aides he expects US bombing of the country to continue beyond November’s midterm elections.
The proposal reportedly called for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear negotiations, according to the Wall Street Journal.
About 30 minutes after the report emerged, Trump posted the “Trump Strait” image on Truth Social. The post echoed his previous use of presidential authority to rename the Gulf of America and Lake America.
Under the proposed arrangement, the United States would have lifted its blockade of Iranian ports, which has placed additional pressure on Iran’s economy. Trump, however, does not plan to end the maritime blockade.
Trump reportedly doubts that Iran will meet his demands and has told staff that another US bombing campaign is likely, the outlet reported.
It remains unclear what renewed strikes against Iran would involve. The Wall Street Journal reported that US officials are also weighing the country’s dwindling stockpile of reserve munitions after months of war in Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that the proposal’s initial measures would take approximately four to five days to implement, according to the Associated Press.
Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump warned that he could “annihilate” Iran if the two sides failed to reach an agreement to end the war.
President Donald Trump reportedly rejected a seven-day ceasefire with Iran that would have required the country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
The proposal rejected by Trump included a weeklong process culminating in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
Before the war with Iran, roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passed through the strait each day. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
Araghchi said reaching an agreement “would be much better if it is done before the midterm election,” CNBC reported.
“But it depends on the US administration to decide,” he added. “We are not in a hurry.”
Under the proposed timetable, Iran would reopen the strait on the sixth day, while talks with the United States would resume on the deal’s final day.
Trump said Tuesday that he expected an agreement to be reached “right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to.”
“They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election,” Trump said. “What they don’t realize is that I’m not running.”
Disruptions to shipping through the strait during the Iran war have driven crude oil prices higher around the world.
The resulting increase in fuel costs has pushed up gasoline prices for consumers, making energy prices a key political issue ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump warned during his UN General Assembly speech earlier this week that he could “annihilate” Iran if no agreement was reached to end the war
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said reaching an agreement “would be much better if it is done before the midterm election”
Trump also mused at the UN that he had a ‘big decision to make’ with regards to the Middle Eastern country’s future.
‘Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?’ Trump said.
‘Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?’ he continued.
The President previously said that the US would not ‘rush into a deal in that time is on our side.’
‘Both sides must take their time and get it right,’ he posted on Truth Social in May. ‘There can be no mistakes!’
The war in Iran has raged since February 28 after joint US-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump has not used his presidential power to rename the Strait of Hormuz as the ‘Trump Strait’ despite his Friday night post.
In late August, he signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America.
That came after Trump also signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, during his second inauguration as president, to effectively rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
This is a breaking news story. More to come.