Iranian foreign minister slams “fake news” after Trump claims US control of Hormuz

On Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cautioned the United States to exercise caution following President Donald Trump's assertion that the US holds full control over the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi tweeted, "Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. The U.S. has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures. Case in point: The war on Iran.

Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz." On Wednesday, Trump claimed, "The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz," adding, "I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, 'A WALL OF STEEL.'" He further stated that "There is nothing Iran can do about it." The Iranian navy and air force are reportedly weak, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is reportedly decimated and fleeing.

Araghchi's comments came as other senior Iranian officials, including a hardline militia figure allied with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, emphasized that Iran will not be intimidated by the US claims of control over the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies pass, has been a contentious point in stalled peace talks between Tehran and Washington.

Both sides have contended over the waterway's sovereignty, with Iran and the US repeatedly asserting their control over it.