Iran has strongly refuted U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz would become U.S. territory. The denial comes as a ship was reportedly struck in the strait and diplomatic channels remain stalled, with Iran stating no negotiations are underway with the U.S. Meanwhile, elevated gas prices persist, with the U.S. maintaining a strong sanctions regime and naval blockade against Iran.
Tehran, Iran - Iran has firmly rebuffed U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz would soon become American territory. The strong denial comes amidst reports of another vessel being struck in the crucial waterway and continued uncertainty surrounding potential negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated unequivocally on X late Friday, "The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran's command." He further emphasized that the strait "cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech," directly challenging Trump's previous remarks.
Earlier, President Trump had suggested that following a U.S. victory over Iran, "pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States." He had previously alluded to the concept of "to the victor belong the spoils" and had considered imposing tolls in the strait post-conflict, though he later abandoned this idea. The strait, prior to the current conflict initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28th, was an open, un-tolled international waterway.
Adding to the tension, Iran's Foreign Minister was quoted by Iranian news outlet Shahrara News early Saturday indicating that no direct negotiations with the U.S. are currently taking place. "No negotiations have been held between us and the United States at this time," Seyed Abbas Araghchi was reported to have said. He clarified that while Qatar and Pakistan are facilitating message exchanges between the two nations, "this does not mean negotiations."
In a separate development, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) reported on Saturday receiving a confirmed alert of a bulk carrier being struck by an unidentified projectile, hitting its hull. This incident underscores the volatile security situation in the region's critical shipping lanes.
Elevated Energy Prices Persist Amid Stalemate
The ongoing military and diplomatic deadlock continues to keep energy prices at elevated levels compared to pre-war figures. President Trump acknowledged this reality on Friday, urging Americans to accept slightly higher fuel costs as a consequence of U.S. actions against Iran.
"So for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember you're doing it so that a very evil country cannot have, a country that really is the number one state sponsor of terror in the world," Trump stated. He reminded the public of the objective to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, linking the increased gasoline prices to this larger strategic goal.
According to the American Automobile Association, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. stood at $4.07 on Saturday, a notable increase from the $3.15 average recorded a year prior. The U.S. is also maintaining stringent sanctions against Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that economic measures of unprecedented scale are being implemented against Iran, describing it as a combination of "economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports."
Indefinite Naval Blockade and Carrier Concerns
Adding to the pressure, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly stated late Thursday that the military is capable of maintaining a naval blockade of Iran's ports indefinitely. Hegseth indicated that ship rotations would continue as planned.
Recent media reports have suggested that the USS George Washington carrier strike group is en route to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been stationed in the Middle East for an extended period exceeding 250 days, with its deployment originally slated to end in May. The George Washington strike group departed Da Nang, Vietnam, on August 12th, according to a Navy statement.
Secretary Hegseth addressed reports of poor conditions aboard the Lincoln, including alleged food shortages and declining morale, terming these reports as "completely misrepresented." He specifically refuted claims of sailors attempting to jump overboard, which had surfaced in some media outlets.
However, Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., expressed serious concerns in a letter to Hegseth and acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao regarding the reported conditions aboard the Lincoln. The letter detailed issues such as moldy showers, broken toilets, lack of hot water, limited access to fresh produce, and supply shortages, attributing these to an "overwhelming workload" leading to "extreme fatigue and burnout" among sailors and Marines.
U.S. Central Command refuted reports of a brawl aboard the carrier, stating that no service members had died, countering claims originating from Iranian media alleging fatalities and injuries from a "violent clash" on the Lincoln.
— CNBC's Kevin Breuninger and Lim Hui Jie contributed to this report.
