- Trump said Friday during a rally in New York, "after we finish defeating Iran . . . pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States."
- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Trump in an X post on Saturday to "once and for all, accept the reality: you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian and will remain Iranian," accusing Trump of "fanciful delusions."
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei appeared to condemn Trump's comments by quoting Fyodor Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" in a post on X earlier Saturday: "The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others."
- The United Arab Emirates said Saturday that Iran attacked a state-owned oil ship in the strait.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi challenged former President Trump to 'accept reality' after Trump announced plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory. Gharibabadi stated, 'you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian and will remain Iranian,' accusing Trump of having 'fanciful delusions.'1
Trump's comments came during a rally in New York, where he claimed, 'after we finish defeating Iran . . . pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.' This statement has heightened tensions in a region already fraught with conflict over control of the vital waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and the ongoing dispute over its control remains a significant issue in U.S.-Iran relations. Both nations assert their authority over the strait, with Iran reportedly attacking vessels in the area while the U.S. continues to block ships entering and exiting Iranian waters. The United Arab Emirates also reported an attack on a state-owned oil ship by Iran in the strait, further complicating the situation.
As diplomatic negotiations continue, the rhetoric from both sides indicates a deepening divide, with Gharibabadi's remarks reflecting Iran's firm stance on its territorial claims and the broader implications for regional stability.
“Gharibabadi's rebuke follows Trump's Friday rally remark that he will declare the strait a US territory 'after we finish defeating Iran.' Separately, the UAE said Iran attacked a state-owned oil ship in the strait on Saturday, escalating tensions.”
Forbes
