Iran responds to Trump's statement about plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory

Iran does not intend to cede control over the Strait of Hormuz under pressure or threats from Washington.

This was stated by the republic's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, commenting on remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about his intention to declare the strategically important waterway American territory.

According to Gharibabadi, Tehran cannot be intimidated by threats or a show of force. He emphasized that only Iran can make the decision to open or close the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports.
The situation deteriorated sharply after the American president announced that the ceasefire agreement with Iran reached on June 18 was no longer in effect.

Following this, the American military carried out a series of strikes on facilities on Iranian territory. U.S. Central Command stated that the operation was a response to actions against civilian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran responded with strikes on American military bases in several Middle Eastern countries and accused Washington of violating the agreements on ending hostilities.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the key points of the current confrontation. The most important routes for oil and gas supplies from the Persian Gulf countries pass through it, so any further escalation around the waterway creates risks for international shipping and the global energy market