Iran Defies US on Strait as Trump Tells Americans to Accept Higher Gas Prices
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iran's control until the US accepts defeat and lifts its blockade. The statement comes as President Donald Trump urged Americans to accept higher gasoline prices due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has halted progress toward peace talks and oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. No crude oil vessels have transited the strait since the war started, according to analysis from ship-tracking firm Kpler.
Tehran calls its enforcement of strait traffic a blockade, while Washington refers to it as a threat against Iranian vessels leaving their ports. The US has pledged to inflict more financial damage on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing that more measures against the country are coming next week.