"Strait of Hormuz is neither your personal casino nor backyard of modern-day pirates": Iranian lawmaker slams Trump
Tehran, June 22
Head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee Ebrahim Azizi issued a warning against the US amid the ongoing technical talks on Monday, asserting Iranian authority over the Strait of Hormuz, after President Donald Trump threatened to "take over the Strait."
In a post on X, Azizi slammed Trump for making threats regarding the Strait of Hormuz, stating that it is "neither your personal casino nor the backyard of modern-day pirates" and affirmed that the final decision regarding the diplomatic chokehold rests with the Iranian people and forces.
"You make threats; we take action. The Strait of Hormuz is neither your personal casino nor the backyard of modern-day pirates; these are Iranian sovereign waters, and the ultimate decision rests with the noble people of Iran and its brave armed forces," he wrote.
His remarks come after US President Donald Trump on Sunday disclosed that he held talks with Iranian officials overnight on Saturday, issuing a stern warning to Tehran against any attempts to block the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz and threatening severe repercussions if such action is taken.
In a direct warning over potential maritime disruption, the US President indicated that Washington would respond with overwhelming force to any blockade of the vital shipping lane.
"You close it, and you won't have a country. You won't even make it back to your f***ng country," Trump told Fox News.
The US President also suggested that Washington could assume direct operational control to secure the global shipping corridor and potentially levy transit fees on oil shipments navigating the waters.
"We may take over the Strait if we have to. I'll blow the sh*t out of them," he said.
Warning of economic measures if diplomatic discussions stall, the Republican leader added, "If they don't make a deal, we'll collect tolls."
Despite the warning, Iran and the United States have established a direct communication line to "avoid incidents and miscommunication" in the Strait of Hormuz, mediators Qatar and Pakistan announced on Monday after the first round of high-level talks under a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The joint statement issued after the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland's Burgenstock stated, "In addition, a communication line between the parties has been formed for the period mentioned in paragraph 5 of the MoU to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz."
The communication channel is tied to paragraph five of the memorandum, which states, "Upon the signing of this MoU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge, for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa.
"Under the provision, Iran has committed to facilitating the movement of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz without imposing transit fees during the 60-day negotiation period.
The memorandum further states, "The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start," signalling the immediate resumption of commercial maritime activity throughout the strategic waterway.
The measure requires Iran to address obstacles to navigation and begin operations within a month.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an American, I'm embarrassed by Trump's threats. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global oil supplies, including India's energy security. But threatening to "take over" someone's waters is pure bullying. Iran's response was actually quite witty - comparing it to a casino. Diplomacy through insults never works.
India imports a lot of oil through this route. This could have serious implications for our fuel prices and economy. I'm glad Qatar and Pakistan are mediating, but Trump's aggressive stance is worrying. Iran's 60-day offer is reasonable - let's hope cooler heads prevail. 🤞
I can't believe Trump actually said he'd "collect tolls" like some mafia boss. This is the 21st century - we have international maritime law. Iran's position is legally sound. The US needs to respect sovereignty. That said, Iran shouldn't threaten to block the strait either - it's a global waterway.
Both sides are playing with fire here. The Strait of Hormuz sees 20% of global oil transit. If it gets blocked, India will suffer directly. But Trump's language is beyond the pale - threatening to destroy another country? Iran's response was measured for once. Let's see if this 60-day talks window actually leads anywhere.
This is classic Trump - loud, aggressive, and zero diplomacy. Iran's "casino" comment was actually clever. As someone who works in shipping, I can tell you this uncertainty is already affecting insurance rates and transit costs. India should use its good
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