Iran Rejects Trump’s Claims as Strait of Hormuz Blockade Continues

Strait of Hormuz Blockade Holds as Iran Rejects U.S. Demands

Progress toward peace talks and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained halted on Saturday, according to Reuters, with neither side showing movement toward ending the conflict that began on February 28. Only two vessels traversed the critical waterway on Friday, displaying no visible crude oil shipments, based on ship-tracking analysis from Kpler. This volume represents a tiny fraction of the more than 130 ships that typically passed through the passage daily before the war.

Tehran maintains strict enforcement of the passage. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi took to X on Saturday to issue a blunt warning to Washington.

Trump Escalates Rhetoric and Urges Public Acceptance of High Fuel Costs

Speaking on Friday at a police academy in Nassau County, New York, President Donald Trump asserted that Iran was being very badly defeated and outlined territorial ambitions for the post-war phase. He told the gathered law enforcement officers at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence that his administration ultimately plans to declare the vital oil artery a territory of the United States.

Iran Disputes Trump Claims Amid Traffic Slump

After we finish defeating Iran …

Donald Trump, U.S. President, via Reuters

Acknowledging the financial pain felt by American drivers, the president defended the ongoing military campaign as a necessary measure to prevent nuclear proliferation. He urged voters to accept slightly higher fuel expenses as the price of national security objectives.

What we’re doing is a great service for the world, not only for ourselves …

Donald Trump, U.S. President, via Reuters

Gasoline prices across the United States averaged approximately $4.08 per gallon on Friday, marking a 29% increase compared to a year earlier, according to data from the American Automobile Association. The resulting inflationary pressure has become a central point of contention, with Democrats positioning the economic fallout as a primary issue ahead of the November congressional elections.

Iran-US Conflict: Tehran Rejects Trump’s Hormuz Claim and Vows Strait Will Stay Closed

Diplomatic Impasse and Rising Maritime Attacks

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict face severe obstacles as a mid-June memorandum of understanding approaches its expiration. A designated 60-day negotiating window, established when Trump and Tehran signed the memorandum of understanding in mid-June, concludes on Monday with few direct negotiations having taken place between Washington and Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed in an interview published Saturday with Shahrara News that no negotiations are currently taking place between Tehran and Washington. While regional intermediaries such as Qatar and Pakistan maintain communication channels, Araghchi emphasized that message-passing does not constitute negotiations and noted that Tehran has made no decision to resume talks with America.

Meanwhile, commercial vessels navigating the Persian Gulf face immediate danger. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that a bulk carrier was struck in the hull by an unknown projectile on Friday, though the crew remained safe and damage assessments were ongoing. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates reported that an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company vessel came under attack in the strait on Friday, following two similar incidents involving company ships the previous evening.

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Economic Strain on Tehran Amid Impending U.S. Sanctions

While the Iranian government maintains public defiance, domestic economic pressures continue to mount. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged on state television that sweeping U.S. sanctions on oil exports and ongoing blockades of Iranian ports have directly fueled high domestic inflation.

Financial pressure on Tehran is set to increase next week. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced during an appearance on Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt Tonight that the administration will unveil additional economic measures against Iran in the coming days, signaling that Washington intends to compound the regime’s financial isolation.