Iran tells US it will not bow to pressure over Strait of Hormuz
Iran's deputy foreign minister says Tehran will not be intimidated by US threats or shows of force, insisting the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian authority.
Iran has pushed back against recent statements by US President Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz, with a senior diplomat insisting Tehran will not yield to pressure.
In a post on X early Saturday, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump's assertion that Washington would declare the strategic waterway a US territory. Gharibabadi said Iran would not be intimidated by threats or displays of military force from the United States.
The deputy minister stressed that the strait — a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments — would only be opened or closed under Iran's authority. His remarks underline the ongoing friction between the two nations over control of the waterway, which has long been a flashpoint in regional tensions.
Trump's comments, which suggested a US claim over the strait, drew an immediate response from Tehran. Gharibabadi's statement signals that Iran considers any external attempt to assert control over the waterway as unacceptable, reaffirming its position that the strait falls squarely within its jurisdiction.
The exchange adds to a pattern of heightened rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a central point of contention in their broader standoff.