"Has Been, Is, and Will Remain Iranian": Tehran Fires Back at Trump Over Strait of Hormuz Territorial Claim

TEHRAN — Tehran has issued a defiant rejection of Washington’s post-war ambitions, with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declaring that the vital Strait of Hormuz "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian".

The sharp retort, posted on social media early Saturday, came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump told a political rally in New York that the United States would "pretty soon" declare the critical global energy chokepoint a U.S. territory once the ongoing conflict with Iran concludes.

A War of Words Over a Global Chokepoint

President Trump’s remarks added fuel to an already volatile standoff in the Persian Gulf, where U.S. naval forces have enforced a strict blockade. Touted by Washington as a "wall of steel", the blockade has driven commercial shipping traffic through the strait to near-standstill levels and pushed global Brent crude prices closer to $90 a barrel.

Rejecting the U.S. assertions of total dominance, Gharibabadi maintained that Tehran remains entirely unfazed by Washington’s military posture.

"The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech," Gharibabadi wrote. "Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power."

The Iranian diplomat further insisted that the strategic conduit—through which a massive share of the world's oil exports traditionally flows—would operate strictly under Tehran's jurisdiction. "This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command," he stated, asserting that Tehran would maintain its enforcement measures until Washington acknowledges what he termed a strategic defeat.

Escalating Economic and Maritime Pressures

The fierce exchange underscores the intractable deadlock over maritime security in the region. While Washington maintains that its military campaign and blockade have severely degraded Iranian infrastructure, regional tensions continue to ripple outward. Recent incidents, including reported attacks on state-linked oil tankers, have heightened anxiety among international shipping operators.

As rhetoric from both capitals intensifies, the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough over the crucial waterway remains distant, leaving global energy markets bracing for prolonged volatility.