Iran says Trump ‘lied’ about US control over Strait of Hormuz

A spokesman for Iran's military command has disputed US President Donald Trump's claim that Washington has "total control over the Strait of Hormuz", a vital energy conduit. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the spokesperson for Iran's central military command, Khatam-al Anbiya, described Trump's assertion as "lies and fabrications", stating that the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete management and control of the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Zolfaghari, no commercial ship or tanker can pass through the strait without the permission and supervision of the Iranian armed forces, and vessels are required to obtain permission and pay transit fees before using the waterway. This contradicts Trump's claim on social media that the US "has total control over the Strait of Hormuz" and that "our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, 'A WALL OF STEEL', and there is nothing Iran can do about it". The dispute over control of the strait comes after the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28, during which Iran has maintained control of the waterway.

The Iranian military's assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz is supported by other high-ranking officials, including the head of Iran's paramilitary Basij forces, Hossein Taeb, who stated that the strait is under Iranian control and that the country continues on its path in complete security. Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, also criticized the US for making miscalculations regarding the waterway, citing the war on Iran as an example of such miscalculations. Additionally, Iranian parliamentarian and member of the national security commission Behnam Saeedi stated that the strait is closed to US and Israeli ships, and that ships belonging to the Zionist regime will not have the right to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under any circumstances. These statements suggest that Iran is committed to maintaining control over the strait and is unwilling to allow US or Israeli ships to pass through without permission. The dispute over control of the strait has significant implications for global energy trade, as the Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for the transportation of oil and other energy products.

The ongoing dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to have significant implications for the region and for global energy trade. Iran's insistence on maintaining control over the strait and requiring vessels to obtain permission and pay transit fees before passing through is likely to lead to continued tensions with the US and other countries that rely on the waterway for energy trade. The fact that Iran and Oman have been in talks to establish a new route through the strait, but that negotiations have not yet been finalized, suggests that there may be opportunities for diplomatic resolution of the dispute. However, Tehran's statement that even if a new route is established, it would not on its own open the waterway unless the US meets Iran's demands, suggests that a resolution to the dispute may be difficult to achieve. As the situation continues to unfold, it is likely that the dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz will remain a major point of contention in the region, with significant implications for global energy trade and regional security.

⚡ Effects Interpreter