Iran rejects Trump claim on Strait of Hormuz seizure

Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump's claim that he could soon declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying the waterway 'has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian', english.mathrubhumi.com reports. In a post on X, Gharibabadi added: 'The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier.' Trump made the remark at a New York rally, saying he would act after defeating Iran. An unnamed White House official later told the Wall Street Journal that Trump's statement was a joke.

Iranian military officials have also disputed US control, with central military command spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari saying vessels could only pass with Iranian permission, english.mathrubhumi.com reports. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of another major miscalculation. Tensions have raised shipping safety concerns: ADNOC, the UAE state oil company, said one of its vessels was attacked in the strait. Iran has demanded an end to the war, sanctions relief, and compensation before reopening the waterway. Iranian Houthi allies have imposed a parallel blockade on Saudi ports in the Red Sea.

The Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of global oil and LNG exports before the conflict. Disruptions have pushed energy prices higher ahead of US midterm elections. US Vice President JD Vance said keeping energy prices low is Washington's top priority, while preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon is second. Iran has signalled an understanding with Oman on a transit route and is finalising joint management arrangements, though diplomacy remains stalled.