Iran threatens to shut Strait of Hormuz until U.S. lifts sanctions
Iran announced it will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until American sanctions are removed, while President Trump rejected Tehran's demands and asserted U.S. control of the waterway.
Iran's leadership said it will maintain a closure of the Strait of Hormuz until the United States ends the sanctions it imposed on Tehran, a move that could further disrupt global oil shipments. The statement came after President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's list of demands as "devious negotiators" and posted on his social-media platform that the United States has "total control" over the strait.
"The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we will keep it," Trump wrote, adding that Iran's economy is in crisis and its military capabilities are limited.
Iranian officials have not specified a timeline for the closure but indicated that the measure would remain in place until the sanctions are lifted. The threat follows recent U.S. sanctions that added Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority to a restricted list, prompting the agency to switch its website to an unsecured connection.
U.S. officials have not commented on the specific threat, but the International Energy Agency warned that continued disruption of the strait could deplete global oil inventories and pressure markets. Analysts note that the heightened rhetoric reflects ongoing tensions over maritime security and regional influence.