Iran Rebukes Trump Over Claimed Ownership of Strait of Hormuz

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, responded to the post on X, vowing that the country would correct the president’s misconceptions. The digital skirmish follows months of mounting tensions. Since the start of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, Iran has restricted transit through the waterway, a critical artery for global fossil fuel shipments. The resulting bottleneck has pushed gasoline prices in the United States to mid-August record highs.

Despite domestic economic fallout and international criticism, Trump has remained defiant, stating last week that he would not apologize for his actions. The situation remains volatile as a 60-day ceasefire expired on Monday without a path toward renewed negotiations. While the administration frames the military campaign as a measure to curb nuclear development, Iranian leadership maintains that its defensive capabilities remain intact. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that the strait will stay closed until the U.S.-led blockade and oil embargo are lifted, warning that further aggression against Iran would result in a more severe defeat for the coalition.