Iran says Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by U.S. threats, force
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iran on Friday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington could declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory, saying the strategic waterway cannot be taken through threats or military force.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X that “the Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet, an aircraft carrier, an order, or an election speech.”
Gharibabadi said Iran was not intimidated by U.S. threats or displays of military power and insisted that Tehran retained control over the strait.
“The Strait of Hormuz was Iran’s, is Iran’s, and will remain Iran’s,” he said, adding that the waterway would be opened or closed only at Iran’s direction.
He said Iran would continue its blockade of the strait until Washington acknowledged what he described as its defeat and abandoned its demands.
On Aug. 13, Trump said that the U.S. Navy was enforcing a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and that, after what he called the complete defeat of Iran, he would declare the waterway U.S. territory “very soon.”
Trump has also claimed that the U.S. has “full control” of the strait and could maintain it.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said the waterway will not reopen while the U.S. maintains its naval intervention and blockade or fails to meet commitments under a June framework agreement between the two countries.
Ibrahim Zolfaqari, spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, also rejected Trump’s claim of full U.S. control.
“No vessel will be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s permission and supervision,” he said.