Iran rejected President Donald Trump’s threat to declare the Strait of Hormuz “United States territory” soon. Trump made the statement on Friday at a police academy in Long Island, New York. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the strait “was Iran’s, is Iran’s and will remain Iran’s.”

In a post on X, Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized through tweets, aircraft carriers, executive orders or election speeches. He said Iran is not frightened by threats and is not deterred by displays of strength. He also said the United States had failed to impose its will in the waterway.

Gharibabadi said the route would be opened and closed only under Iran’s direction, adding that Iran would maintain the blockade while the United States refused to accept the reality of its defeat. Trump said the United States had imposed a blockade and that no ship could transit without US permission. It was not immediately clear whether his remarks announced a new policy decision.