Iran says Hormuz cannot be seized by ‘tweet or warship’

Iran has rejected US threats over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi declaring that the waterway cannot be taken over through a presidential order, social media post, aircraft carrier or election speech.

Gharibabadi’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump threatened to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory, according to Iranian media reports. The comments have added another layer of tension to an already volatile confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

Writing on X, Gharibabadi said the strategic waterway could not be brought under American control through political statements or military pressure. He argued that decisions concerning the strait remained in Iran’s hands.

“The Strait of Hormuz was, is and will remain Iranian,” Gharibabadi said, stressing that Tehran would determine when the passage could be opened or closed.

The deputy foreign minister also said Iran was not intimidated by American threats and would continue its blockade until Washington acknowledged what he described as its “strategic defeats” and abandoned what he called unrealistic expectations.

Trump has separately warned that he could soon announce plans to designate the Strait of Hormuz as US territory. His reported comments have intensified concerns over the future of one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. A major disruption to traffic through the narrow waterway could have significant consequences for global energy markets because substantial volumes of oil and gas pass through it.

Iran’s latest statement therefore carries significance far beyond its dispute with Washington. Any prolonged confrontation around the strait could affect commercial shipping, energy supplies and international markets.

The exchange of threats also highlights the broader strategic struggle between Iran and the United States, with both sides showing little sign of backing down.

For Tehran, the message is clear: control of Hormuz is being presented as a matter of sovereignty and national security, while Washington’s threats are being dismissed as insufficient to alter Iran’s position.