Tehran: Iranian authorities have strongly responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory, calling the remarks mere fantasy and stating that the strait will remain Iranian forever. This comes as Iran and Oman have reached a technical agreement on rerouting shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz to regulate and enhance the safety of commercial vessels.
According to Thai News Agency, earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced to supporters during a campaign rally in New York that after the U.S. defeated Iran, he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory. He also stated that the U.S. Navy currently controls the strait through a naval blockade. However, an unnamed White House official later clarified through the media that President Trump's statement was merely a joke.
Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Qasem Garibabadi posted a message on the X platform stating that the Strait of Hormuz once belonged to Iran, currently belongs to Iran, and will remain so forever. He added that the strait can only be opened or closed by Iranian command, and that sovereignty over these waters cannot be seized through tweets, aircraft carriers, or campaign speeches.
Previously, Iran continued to enforce its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, preventing almost all crude oil tankers from passing through this strategic area. Ships attempting to bypass the blockade without permission face the risk of missile and drone attacks. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that no decision had been made to resume negotiations with the United States, emphasizing that the US must meet Iran's conditions and accept defeat before international shipping can return to normal.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused global energy prices to surge. Most recently, Brent crude oil prices have climbed close to $90 per barrel, while retail fuel prices in the US have risen nearly 29 percent compared to last year. This is putting significant pressure on Trump's popularity ahead of the midterm elections in November. Trump has urged the public to accept the higher retail fuel prices, arguing that it is a worthwhile trade-off for halting Iran's nuclear program, which he called "very evil." Meanwhile, the US government is preparing to draw oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help prop up domestic fuel prices and is considering easing shipping regulations to reduce energy costs.
Meanwhile, Iran and Oman reached a technical agreement on mapping new shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz to regulate and enhance the safety of commercial vessels. The official announcement stated that both sides had agreed on the geographical coordinates of the entry and exit routes after more than three months of technical negotiations.
An independent bilateral agreement between the two strait nations outlines the division of maritime traffic management to ensure safety and protect sovereign rights. The temporary 60-day navigation regulation plan requires incoming vessels to use a northern route through Iranian waters, while outgoing vessels to the Arabian Sea will use a southern route through Omani waters, in coordination with Iran. Iranian coordination will be led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with security forces, the military, and environmental protection agencies to determine appropriate routes. News reports citing the draft document indicate that the agreement prohibits US and Israeli vessels from passing through the strait and imposes fines of up to 20% of the value of the cargo for violators.
Although the route mapping has been completed and the wording of the joint statement is being finalized, Iran has made it clear that this agreement does not immediately result in the normal reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The full restoration of maritime security and commercial shipping will only occur when the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, ceases military threats, and compensates for violations of the ceasefire agreement previously signed between the two sides. Therefore, this agreement between Iran and Oman is merely a technical framework to prepare for the future resumption of shipping.