Tehran: Rebuffing US President Donald Trump's statement that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory, a senior Iranian diplomat has asserted that the strait belongs solely to Iran and called on the US to admit defeat in its ongoing war with Iran. "The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet, an aircraft carrier, an order, or an election speech," Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on US social media company X on Friday, adding, "Iran is neither afraid of threats nor can it be intimidated by a show of force." According to TRTworld.com, Gharibabadi emphasized that, "The Strait of Hormuz was Iran's, is Iran's, and will remain Iran's. This strait will be closed and opened only at Iran's command, and until you accept the reality of your defeat and abandon your fantasies, Iran will continue to impose a blockade (on Hormuz)." Late on Friday, Trump asserted that the US Navy was enforcing a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and claimed: "After completely defeating Iran, I will decl are the Strait of Hormuz US territory very soon." He also urged Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices while the war against Iran continues. Iranian officials have maintained that the strait will remain closed as long as US intervention persists, the naval blockade is upheld, and the June framework agreement between Tehran and Washington remains unfulfilled. Trump, on his Truth Social platform, stated that the US had "full control" over the Strait of Hormuz and believed they could maintain that control. Ibrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's highest military body coordinating the war, declared on Friday: "No vessel will be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iran's permission and supervision." Meanwhile, ship-tracking firm Kpler reported that only two vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday: a grain ship entering Iranian waters and an empty dry bulk ship traveling in the other direction. A separate empty liquefied petroleum products tanker was observed entering the Gulf via the strait, with no crude oil shipments visible. Some ships may cross the strait undetected with their transponders off, but the figures are far below the more than 130 ships that traversed it daily before the war. The United Arab Emirates' Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reported that two of its vessels were attacked while transiting the strait on Thursday evening. The Emirati state news agency WAM later reported another vessel came under attack on Friday. Iran labels its enforcement of strait traffic a blockade, while the US uses the same term for its threat against Iranian vessels leaving their ports. With a tentative June deal to end the war in tatters, there appears to be no indication that the US or Iran are planning to resume peace talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi stated that no decision has been made to restart negotiations with the US, as reported by the Iranian Student News Agency on Saturday. Mediators Qatar and Pakistan are in contact with Iran and exchanging messages, but Aragchi clarified that this does not amount to negotiations.
