Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Iran on Saturday called on the United States to “accept defeat” in the ongoing conflict, while US President Donald Trump described Tehran as a “very evil country” and urged Americans to brace for higher fuel prices, highlighting the deep divide between the two sides as prospects for peace talks remain bleak.
The exchange came as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely disrupted, with both Washington and Tehran maintaining hardline positions over one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
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In a post on X, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iran‘s control until the US acknowledged what he described as its defeat.
“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 wrote.
He also rejected suggestions that the waterway could be controlled through military deployments or political statements, saying, “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet or an aircraft carrier, by issuing an order or by delivering an election speech.”
The latest rhetoric comes months after the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, triggering a conflict that has effectively paralysed commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that handled roughly one-fifth of global oil exports before the war.
DISRUPTION TO INCREASE OIL PRICES MORE
According to ship-tracking firm Kpler, only two vessels transited the strait on Friday, with no crude oil shipments visible. Before the conflict, more than 130 ships crossed the waterway daily. Analysts noted that while some vessels may travel with their tracking systems switched off, shipping activity remains drastically below normal levels.
The disruption has pushed up global energy prices. Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate futures were on track for weekly gains of 6 per cent and 5.4 per cent, respectively.
Addressing supporters at a political rally in Garden City, New York, on Friday, Trump acknowledged the economic impact of the conflict but defended the costs.
Speaking at the rally, he said, “After we finish defeating Iran, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” though he did not elaborate on how or when such a move could be implemented.
He urged Americans to accept paying “a tiny little bit more” for gasoline, arguing that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon justified higher fuel prices.
The average price of gasoline in the United States has climbed to around $4.08 per gallon, about 29 per cent higher than a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association.
The increase has complicated Trump’s long-standing pledge to reduce energy costs and has become a point of attack for Democrats ahead of the November congressional elections.
TRUMP TRYING TO PRESSURISE TEHRAN
Trump also signalled that Washington intended to intensify economic pressure on Tehran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said additional sanctions and financial measures against Iran would be announced next week.
Despite Tehran’s defiant tone, Iranian officials also acknowledged mounting domestic economic pressure. President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed rising inflation on what he described as a US blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions targeting the country’s oil exports.
Diplomatic efforts also appeared stalled. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said no decision had been taken on resuming negotiations with Washington.
While mediators including Qatar and Pakistan remain in contact with Tehran and continue to exchange messages, Iranian officials stressed that these contacts do not constitute formal peace negotiations.
MARITIME SECURITY TAKES A HIT
The maritime security situation has also deteriorated. The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of attacking another vessel operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, after reporting two similar incidents a day earlier.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that a bulk carrier had been struck by an unidentified projectile in the strait.
Regional tensions have been further aggravated by attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government said the group fired six ballistic missiles at the Red Sea port of Mocha on Friday, killing four civilians, while Houthi media claimed the group had also targeted an Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia’s Najran with a drone.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
