'Iran neither fears threats nor cowers': Tehran defies Trump threat to claim Strait of Hormuz
Tehran says only it will decide whether the strategic waterway stays open or closed after Trump says he may declare it US territory, as Iranian officials warn they will not yield to threats or displays of force
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to declare the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory, but Iran responded defiantly, maintaining that only Iran could control the strategic waterway. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi directly addressed Trump, stating that the strait would only be controlled by Iran and warned the U.S. not to accept defeat.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, has become a focal point in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Iranian Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, claimed that Iran was prevailing in the war and criticized the U.S. military for lacking a clear strategy.
He stated that Iran needed to prolong the conflict until the next presidential term to inflict costs on potential attackers. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed potential talks with the U.S., emphasizing that Tehran had not yet decided on resuming discussions. Naqdi also defended Iranian attacks on civilian vessels, claiming they could carry supplies to Iran's enemies.
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz intensified as Vice President JD Vance argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was not the administration's top priority; rather, the goal was to keep energy affordable for Americans by maintaining stable oil and gas prices.
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