A senior Iranian official stressed on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz is securely under the control of the Islamic Republic, challenging President Donald Trump’s claim of US dominance over this strategic waterway.
Hossein Taeb, the leader of Iran’s paramilitary Basij forces associated with the Revolutionary Guards, announced on state television that Iran maintains control over the strait to ensure national security.
Following Trump’s declaration on his Truth Social platform that the US had secured control of a critical energy corridor, claiming “total control” and describing it as a “WALL OF STEEL” naval blockade, he stated there was nothing Iran could do to counter this move.
Although the US has often asserted authority over the strait, Iran consistently disputes these claims, asserting both its control and plans to establish a toll system.
Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, criticized the United States on Thursday, claiming their actions stem from miscalculations and intelligence failures. He pointed to previous US activities as flawed examples of such issues.
In the meantime, Iranian parliamentarian Behnam Saeedi asserted that US and Israeli vessels are still barred from accessing the strait, emphasizing that these ships have no passage rights under any circumstances.
Iran and Oman are in discussions to create an alternative route through the strait, although no agreement has been reached yet. Tehran insists that even with a new route available, modifications will only take place if the United States meets Iran’s conditions.
