Trump’s incendiary remarks on the Strait of Hormuz ignite a new crisis with Tehran

US President Donald Trump has triggered a new wave of anger and provocation in Tehran following his controversial hints about the possibility of placing the Strait of Hormuz under US sovereignty in the event of any potential confrontation, which Iranian officials have deemed a blatant violation of a strategic red line.

Decisive Iranian response and escalation in the Gulf

Tehran was quick to respond to these insinuations. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated in a sharp tone that the Strait of Hormuz has historically been, and will remain, purely Iranian. The official explained that the decision to open or close the sensitive waterway remains exclusively in Tehran’s hands, emphasizing that control over this strategic strait cannot be determined by social media posts, nor by aircraft carriers or presidential decrees.

The White House clarifies: A joke or a political message?

In an attempt to calm the situation and contain the diplomatic escalation, the “Wall Street Journal” quoted a senior White House official confirming that Trump’s statements were merely a “joke,” denying the existence of any official or serious discussions within the US administration regarding plans to turn the strait into American territory.

Despite this clarification, the Strait of Hormuz remains a major strategic pressure card, given that a huge percentage of global oil supply passes through it. With the outbreak of recent crises, Tehran has tightened its grip in the region, while Washington has responded by strengthening the blockade imposed on Iranian ports.

Washington’s position on the nuclear file and oil prices

For his part, the US President pushed forward traditional justifications for military operations, considering them a necessary and inevitable step to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, despite the direct economic repercussions that led to oil prices rising by more than 35 percent compared to the pre-crisis period.

In the same context, US Vice President JD Vance affirmed that the US administration is striving to achieve two main goals: maintaining the stability of oil prices in international markets at low levels, and putting an end to any Iranian attempt to possess nuclear capabilities.