Tehran has issued a fresh warning that it could once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz if the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports.
The statement, released on Saturday, comes shortly after Iran reopened the strategic waterway following a ceasefire in Lebanon, signaling renewed volatility in regional tensions.
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, accused US President Donald Trump of repeatedly making “false claims,” arguing that such statements carry no weight in either military conflict or diplomatic negotiations.
He further cautioned that Iran may restrict passage through the Strait if US pressure persists, stressing that any maritime transit would depend on Iranian authorization and prevailing conditions rather than external rhetoric.
The warning follows heightened diplomatic and economic uncertainty, as earlier reports suggested improving conditions after the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The move had boosted global markets and drawn cautious optimism from Washington.
President Trump had indicated that a wider US-Iran agreement was nearing completion, claiming Tehran had agreed to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile.
“We’re going to get it by going in with Iran, with lots of excavators,” Trump said during an event in Arizona, referring to the disputed nuclear material. However, Iranian officials rejected the assertion, insisting that their enriched uranium reserves would not be handed over under any circumstances.
Tehran also escalated its warnings, stating that if US naval forces intercept vessels departing Iranian ports, it could again close the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway is a critical global energy route, with roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it.
Meanwhile, President Trump said late Friday that the United States intends to maintain its blockade of Iranian ports unless a peace agreement is reached. He also suggested uncertainty over extending the current ceasefire once it expires.
“Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, while acknowledging that a broader agreement remains possible, adding, “I think it’s going to happen.”
Iran had reopened the Strait on Friday following a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but warned that renewed US restrictions could force it to shut the passage once again. The existing ceasefire arrangement between Tehran and Washington is scheduled to expire on Wednesday, adding further pressure on ongoing negotiations.
