Iran Fires Back at Trump Over Hormuz Control Claim
In the midst of ongoing Iran tensions, Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz as US territory after defeating Iran, asserting the waterway remains under its control and will stay blockaded amid ongoing attacks that have halted maritime traffic.
Iran Tensions: Iran Rejects Trump’s Hormuz Claim
Iran fired back on Saturday at US President Donald Trump’s claim that he would soon declare the strategic Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, asserting the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded will indefinitely remain under Iranian command. [1] The rhetorical clash comes as attacks on Emirati oil tankers brought maritime traffic in the vital waterway to a near standstill. [1] “The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on X. [1] “This strait will be opened and closed only at Iran’s command, and so long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade,” he added. [1] Trump, speaking at a rally in New York on Friday, said that after the US defeated Iran, he would “pretty soon” declare Hormuz US territory. [1] A White House official later attempted to soften the statement, saying the president had been joking. [1]
Attacks Halt Shipping in Strait
The United Arab Emirates’ state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said one of its vessels came under attack while transiting the strait on Friday evening, following similar attacks on two ADNOC vessels Thursday. [1] No injuries were reported. [1] Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a bulk carrier was struck in the hull by an unknown projectile in the strait on Friday. [1] The attacks have dramatically slowed traffic. [1] Vessel-tracking data from Kpler showed only two non-oil vessels passing through on Friday with no crude shipments visible, a stark contrast to the more than 130 ships that traversed it daily before the conflict began in late February. [1] For Gulf economies built around oil exports, the disruption has created a crisis that extends far beyond the battlefield. [1] Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s chief executive described the country’s oil sector as “paralysed”, with more than 90pc of government income dependent on crude exports travelling through Hormuz. [1]
Diplomatic Efforts Remain Frozen
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that Tehran has not decided to resume negotiations with Washington. [1] He clarified that messages exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan do not amount to negotiations, adding that the US must meet strict conditions for shipping to resume. [1] A top Iranian official, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, outlined those conditions last week, demanding an end to the “war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq”, alongside the termination of crippling sanctions and compensation for wartime damage. [1] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said reopening Hormuz was a priority and that he had discussed ending the war and Washington’s role in doing so with Trump. [1]
Economic Toll on Iran and US
Despite Iran’s defiant tone regarding the strait, President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the war’s severe economic toll on his country. [1] In remarks carried by state media, Pezeshkian attributed rising inflation to the US blockade and the destruction of industrial facilities. [1] “Our revenues have declined. We used to sell oil, but now we cannot sell it,” Pezeshkian said, noting that damaged factories have decimated tax revenues. [1] Washington has signalled further economic pressure, with Treasury secretary Scott Bessent promising measures aimed at placing Tehran under unprecedented isolation. [1] The US military has also vowed to maintain an indefinite naval blockade of Iranian ports. [1] However, the closure of Hormuz has also created a political headache for Trump ahead of the November congressional elections. [1] The average US price of a gallon of gasoline reached about $4.08 on Friday, up 29pc from a year earlier. [1] Vice-president JD Vance said keeping energy prices low was Washington’s top priority, even as Trump urged Americans to accept higher petrol prices as the price of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. [1]
Dispute Over Captured Iranian Pilots
Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday to help secure the release of three Iranian pilots allegedly held in Qatar. [1] The military’s Missing Persons Search Committee said pilots Javad Salehi, Abdolmajid Dashtian, and Omran Behraveshian were captured alive in March after their Su-24 fighter jets were shot down during an operation against a US base. [1] The committee accused Qatar of violating the Geneva Conventions by denying the prisoners communication with their families. [1] In response, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said on X: “We categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots & are surprised by these misleading statements.” [1] Qatar rescuers “carried out their duties to the fullest” searching for the pilots, he added. [1] It had “communicated with the Iranian side to coordinate the handover of the remains of one of the pilots who was found”, said Ansari. [1] “Qatar also issued an invitation for an Iranian team to visit the Qatar to be briefed on the details of the search & rescue operations in April, but the Iranian side has yet to respond to the invitation,” he added. [1] Qatar on Saturday denied Iranian claims that its forces were holding three Iranian military pilots captured after their fighter jets were downed during a March operation, saying the allegations were misleading and came at a sensitive time amid efforts to ease regional tensions. [2] Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Mohammed Al-Ansari said authorities had attempted to contact the pilots after they allegedly violated Qatari airspace but received no response. [2] Qatar then acted under its rules of engagement to defend its territory, he said. [2] Al-Ansari said Qatari search and rescue teams subsequently searched for the pilots and later coordinated with Iran to hand over the remains of one pilot who was found. [2] Qatar also said it had invited an Iranian team in April to examine the details of its search and rescue operations, but claimed Tehran had not responded to the invitation. [2] The claims relate to the wider regional conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation against targets in Israel and US military facilities across the Gulf. [2] Iranian forces targeted the US military presence at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. [2]
Broader International Sanctions Alignment
Ukraine and eight other countries have aligned with updated EU sanctions against Iran over its military support for Russia and armed groups in the Middle East. [3] Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova (Republic of), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway and Ukraine align themselves with this Council Decision. [3] On 24 July, the Council of the EU adopted a decision extending and updating restrictive measures against Iran. [3] On 29 July, Kaja Kallas held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and urged him to immediately end Iran's military support for Russia. [3]
What to watch next: Iranian officials have stated that messages exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan do not amount to negotiations, while the US has signalled further sanctions and an indefinite naval blockade of Iranian ports.
