Iran Spits Fire at US as Middle East Conflict Continues Unabated
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has fired back at the US, saying they should accept defeat in the escalating Middle East conflict. The comments came after a post on X, where Gharibabadi said Iran will continue to enforce its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz until the US accepts reality.
The Strait is a crucial trade route through which a fifth of the world's energy cargoes pass. Its closure has led to surging oil prices, which reached as high as $120 a barrel after hostilities resumed in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump responded by asking Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices, saying it was worth ensuring an 'evil' country like Iran did not obtain a nuclear weapon. Trump's comments came at a political rally in New York, where he said paying 'a tiny little bit more for your gasoline' was the price of keeping Iran at bay.
The war of words between Tehran and Washington continues unabated, with both sides unwilling to acknowledge the possibility of a military solution. Until that happens, peace remains elusive.