‘Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet’ – Iran responds to Trump’s threat to declare Hormuz ‘US territory’

Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s threat to declare the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz as United States territory, with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying the waterway cannot be seized through a social media post or military force.

Gharibabadi was responding to Trump’s latest remarks on the Strait, amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over control of the crucial maritime passage.

Trump has threatened to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory, while claiming that the United States has established effective control over the waterway.

But Gharibabadi dismissed the assertion, arguing that the status of the Strait cannot be altered unilaterally by the United States.

The Strait of Hormuz, which separates Iran from Oman, is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. A significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments traditionally passes through the narrow passage, making its security critical to international energy markets.

Iran has repeatedly asserted its authority over the waters under its jurisdiction and has resisted attempts by foreign powers to establish control over the Strait.

Gharibabadi’s comments underline Tehran’s position that military superiority does not translate into territorial sovereignty.

“Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet,” the Iranian official said, in a pointed response to Trump’s declaration.

The dispute comes amid an increasingly tense confrontation between the United States and Iran, with Washington seeking to maintain pressure on Tehran while Iran continues to challenge American military and political influence in the region.

Any attempt by the United States to formally claim the Strait as its territory would likely trigger a major international legal and diplomatic confrontation.

Under international maritime law, the Strait of Hormuz is regarded as an international maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Iran and Oman exercise sovereignty over their respective territorial waters, while ships have rights of navigation under the applicable international legal framework.

The stakes extend far beyond Iran and the United States. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through Hormuz could have serious consequences for global oil supplies, energy prices and international trade.

For Tehran, therefore, the issue is not simply about a waterway but about sovereignty and control over one of the most strategically important maritime routes in the world.

For Washington, meanwhile, maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait remains a major strategic objective.

The latest exchange between Trump and Gharibabadi suggests that the battle over Hormuz is likely to remain one of the most contentious issues in the escalating US-Iran confrontation.