What did Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister say about control over the Strait of Hormuz, and how did he characterize U.S. attempts to influence it?

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated: 'This strait will be opened and closed only under Iran's command, and so long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in fantasies, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade.' He added: 'The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet or an aircraft carrier, by issuing an order or by delivering an election speech.'

What is the current state of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and how does it compare to prewar levels?

According to ship-tracking firm Kpler, only two vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday — a grain ship entering Iranian waters and an empty dry bulk ship going the other direction — plus one empty liquefied petroleum products tanker sailing into the Gulf; there were no visible crude oil shipments. This is far below the more than 130 ships that traversed it daily before the war.

Iran Defiant on Strait as Trump Tells Americans to Accept High Gas Prices

Aug 14, 2026

Iran has halted oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions with the U.S., causing crude oil futures to rise and prompting President Trump to warn Americans of sustained high gasoline prices.

reuters

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