Trump claims U.S. could take control of strategic shipping strait

President Donald Trump posted a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “New US Territory” and said he would declare it a U.S. territory after defeating Iran. He also said the United States had imposed a blockade preventing ships from passing without its approval.

The strait lies in the territorial waters of Oman and Iran but is considered international waters under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The U.S. has treated the convention as customary international law, despite not ratifying it.

The Constitution gives Congress, rather than the president acting alone, the power to acquire and govern U.S. territories. Trump has also threatened to bomb Oman, a longstanding U.S. ally, if it interferes with negotiations with Iran.

Read the full story at theguardian.com.