Iran vows to retain Hormuz control as Trump threatens US annexation
Amidst escalating rhetoric from Washington and fresh violence in Lebanon, Iranian officials reaffirm sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz while the UAE reports an attack on a commercial vessel.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to declare the Strait of Hormuz American territory, a move he linked directly to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Speaking at a police academy rally in New York on Friday, Trump stated he would “soon” make the claim after “finishing defeating” Iran, describing the current US naval blockade as an “unstoppable wall of steel” that serves as a public service for global commerce.
Tehran swiftly rejected the assertion of US sovereignty. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi posted on X on Saturday that the waterway “has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian.” He emphasised that the strategic route “will be opened and closed only at Iran’s command,” dismissing the American proposal as legally and politically void.
The diplomatic standoff coincides with heightened military activity in the region. An Israeli strike on a home in the village of Ansar in southern Lebanon killed seven people and wounded three others early on Saturday. This incident marks the highest casualty toll since a June lull in hostilities, which was part of a trilateral framework involving Lebanon, Israel, and the US aimed at Hezbollah’s disarmament and Israeli withdrawal.
Commercial shipping in the area remains under threat. The UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reported on Saturday that one of its vessels came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz the previous day. The company confirmed that no injuries were reported and that the situation was now under control, though it did not specify the nature of the attack.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi clarified that Tehran has not decided to resume direct talks with the US, describing messages exchanged via Qatar and Pakistan as non-negotiations. He noted that while separate discussions with Oman are focused on defining a temporary sea route through the strait, the resumption of shipping traffic remains contingent on the US meeting specific political conditions.
