Iran has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory, saying the strategic waterway remains under Iranian control.
Trump made the threat Friday as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to rise.
He said the United States would take control of the strait after defeating Iran.
“After we finish defeating Iran, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” Trump said.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed the threat, saying Tehran would not be intimidated by U.S. military power.
Gharibabadi said the strait “will remain Iranian” and that Iran would continue enforcing its blockade until the United States accepts defeat, according to reports.
In a separate statement reported by Anadolu, Iran said, “Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet, an aircraft carrier, an order, or an election speech.”
The dispute centers on one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for global oil and gas shipments.
Shipping through the waterway has fallen sharply during the conflict.
Reuters reported that only a few ships passed through Friday, compared with more than 130 vessels on an average day before the war.
Iran has refused to reopen the strait fully, while the United States has maintained a naval blockade and threatened further economic pressure.
Trump has also warned Americans to expect higher fuel prices as the conflict continues.
The latest exchange adds to fears that the conflict could further disrupt global energy supplies and increase tensions across the Middle East.
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