Iran Rejects Trump's Claim on Hormuz Strait as Tensions Escalate

Iran has fired back at US President Donald Trump's claim that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, saying the crucial energy waterway will remain under Iranian control. In a statement on social media platform X, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said 'The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian.' He also stated that the strait's traffic would only be closed or opened under Iran's command.

Trump had made the claim at a political rally in New York State on Friday, saying 'pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,' but later clarified through a White House official that he was joking. However, his comments have been met with skepticism by Iran, which has repeatedly insisted that it will not back down.

Iran has set out a list of conditions for reopening the strait, including an end to 'war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq,' as well as the release of frozen assets and compensation for wartime damage. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, attacks on vessels in the Hormuz Strait have continued, with several incidents reported in recent days.

The US has imposed a retaliatory blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to cripple the economy, while Iran has restricted traffic in the strait, leading to a surge in oil prices. The Strait of Hormuz carries around 20% of the world's oil exports and is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.