Iran Rejects Trump's Hormuz Claim, Vows Control of Waterway Carrying 25% of Seaborne Oil
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Aug 15
Iran Rejects Trump's Hormuz Claim, Vows Control of Waterway Carrying 25% of Seaborne Oil
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Aug 15
Summary
Kazem Gharibabadi said on Saturday the Strait of Hormuz "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian," adding Tehran alone will decide when the passage opens or closes.
Trump triggered the response after joking in New York that, once Iran was defeated, he could declare Hormuz a U.S. territory and saying no ships pass unless Washington allows it.
The dispute centers on a chokepoint that normally carries about a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and that Iran effectively shut after the war began in late February.
A June memorandum had required Iran to reopen the strait and curb nuclear activity in exchange for a U.S. naval pullback and sanctions relief, but July attacks on shipping brought fresh U.S. strikes and a renewed blockade.
Could the battle over this vital oil chokepoint permanently reshape global energy markets and shipping routes?
If international waters are suddenly claimed as sovereign territory, what happens to the future of global maritime trade?
With billions at stake, can emergency pipelines truly bypass the contested waterway before global supply chains collapse?
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Energy Shock, Military Standoff, and the Race for Resilience
Overview
The 2026 Persian Gulf crisis began when U.S. and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz and triggering a U.S. naval blockade. This blockade halted Iran’s oil exports, causing hyperinflation and food insecurity in Iran, while also unleashing the worst global energy shock in history. Emergency oil releases and supply chain disruptions followed, affecting everything from semiconductors to fertilizers and pushing millions toward hunger. Diplomatic efforts repeatedly failed over control of the strait, leading to renewed military clashes and a deepening global crisis, with no clear resolution in sight.