Tehran says Strait of Hormuz "under Iran's control" after Trump threat

Iranian officials are asserting that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control, contradicting claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. exercises total control over the crucial waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint linking the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, has been the subject of tensions between the two nations since the start of a Middle East war in February.

Iran's Department of Environment is investigating an oil spill that has washed up on Qeshm Island, with preliminary evidence pointing to a foreign bulk carrier as the source. In a statement, Iran's Semi-Official Fars News Agency suggested that every party benefiting from commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including nations that consume inexpensive energy and shipping insurers, has a legal and moral obligation to remediate the environmental damage.

Iran's Basij paramilitary unit head, Hossein Taeb, confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is "under Iran's control and management." Meanwhile, more than 30 countries, including France, Britain, and Canada, have condemned Iran's use of capital punishment, calling it a violation of human rights. Iran's foreign minister dismissed these criticisms, accusing Western nations of hypocrisy for backing Israel's actions in Gaza and its aggression against Iran.

Despite these tensions, Iran has maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has slowed traffic to a fraction of its normal levels.