Iran hits back at Trump’s Strait of Hormuz claim, says ‘It will remain Iranian’

Tehran reacted strongly to US President Donald Trump's assertion that the Strait of Hormuz would become US territory following the conflict with Iran. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, affirmed during a statement on X that the strategic waterway remains "Iranian" and "will remain Iranian," controlling its opening and closing.

President Trump had previously claimed victory over Iran, stating he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. White House officials later clarified Trump's remarks as a joke. Iran outlined conditions for reopening the strait, demanding an end to aggression against Iran and its allies, removal of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and compensation for war-related damage.

Attacks in the Hormuz strait continued amid the ongoing standstill in diplomatic efforts. The UAE's ADNOC reported an attack on one of its vessels in the strait, blaming Iran's Revolutionary Guards for piracy. The Gulf nation also accused Iran of other attacks on ADNOC-linked vessels. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil and LNG prices to soar, impacting US voters and presenting a political challenge for Trump before the midterm elections. The US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports to counter Tehran's economic impact.