In a bold move on Monday, Iran accused the United States of engaging in “piracy” after President Trump announced plans to block the Strait of Hormuz. Iran took the opportunity to forewarn that such actions could swiftly lead to Americans longing for the days of $4 gasoline.
The Iranian armed forces responded assertively to Trump’s threat, which involved cutting off access to Iranian ports and restricting international vessels starting at 10 a.m. ET. They labeled these measures as illegal, vowing to implement a “permanent mechanism” to assert control over the strategically vital oil passageway.
An Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson condemned the U.S. actions, stating, “The criminal actions of America in restricting maritime transit in international waters are illegal and constitute piracy.” They further emphasized that the security of ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman should be a shared responsibility, implying that if one party’s access is compromised, none should feel secure.
Iran issued a stern warning that any perceived threats to their ports would result in the insecurity of all ports in the region, highlighting the potential for widespread disruption.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, mocked the situation, predicting that the blockade would soon have Americans feeling the economic impact at the gas pump.
The threats came as Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, sneered that Americans would feel the pinch at the gas pump following the ultimatum to block the waterway.
“Enjoy the current pump figures,” he wrote on X. “With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”
Trump, for his part, has vowed to fight back against Iran’s “WORLD EXTORTION” and ensure that no one paying tolls to the regime will get through the critical oil chokepoint.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said on Truth Social on Sunday.
“At some point, we will reach an ‘ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO IN, ALL BEING ALLOWED TO GO OUT’ basis, but Iran has not allowed that to happen by merely saying, ‘There may be a mine out there somewhere,’ that nobody knows about but them.
“THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted.
“No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
With Post wires
