A war of words escalated sharply on Saturday as Iran’s parliament speaker warned that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would “not remain open” if the United States proceeds with a blockade of Iranian ports, while President Donald Trump vowed to continue the pressure campaign until a peace deal is reached.
“If American threats to block our ports become a reality, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open for anyone,” Iran’s parliament speaker said in remarks carried by state media. The strait is a vital chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil passes.
President Trump fired back, insisting the waterway is “open and ready for business” despite the standoff. “The blockade will continue until a full peace deal is on the table,” Trump said. “Iran has already agreed to everything, including the removal of all enriched uranium from their country to the United States.”
Tehran swiftly denied that claim. “No such agreement exists,” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said, rejecting the president’s assertion as “propaganda.”
Earlier, Iran’s foreign minister had stated that the strait remains “completely open” to commercial shipping for the remainder of a current ceasefire. However, tracking data from maritime monitoring services showed that very few vessels have actually transited through the waterway in recent days, a sign that tanker operators are already steering clear of the escalating confrontation.
The dueling threats raise the prospect of a new flashpoint in Gulf waters, where the US Navy maintains a significant presence. Any closure of the Strait of Hormuz would likely send global oil prices soaring and trigger an immediate international crisis.
