The Strait of Hormuz controversy has intensified after Iran strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to rename the vital waterway as the “Strait of Trump.” Iranian officials called the statement misleading and politically provocative.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded publicly on social media, sharing an old video of Donald Trump in which he mistakenly referred to the Strait of Hormuz using an incorrect name before correcting himself.
He stated that using incorrect terminology for the Strait of Hormuz controversy is not only factually wrong but also contributes to unnecessary tension in an already sensitive region. According to him, such remarks distort historical and geographical realities.
Today is Persian Gulf Day in Iran, marking our ancestors’ expulsion of Portuguese from Strait of Hormuz 400 years ago.
POTUS uses the correct term “Persian Gulf”, not the Pentagon’s fake version. But calling Hormuz anything else is indeed a “terrible mistake”. pic.twitter.com/KcGwj83W2B
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 30, 2026
The foreign minister further emphasized that the proper name “Persian Gulf” and “Strait of Hormuz” must be respected. He warned that altering established names could escalate diplomatic friction and regional instability.
The Strait of Hormuz controversy escalated after Trump reportedly shared a map on his social media platform showing the waterway labeled as the “Strait of Trump,” sparking criticism from Iranian officials.
Iran argued that such actions reflect a lack of understanding of regional geography and could inflame tensions in an area already affected by ongoing geopolitical disputes and energy security concerns.
As the Strait of Hormuz controversy continues, analysts warn that symbolic political gestures like renaming strategic locations may deepen diplomatic rifts between the United States and Iran.
