• Source:JND

United States President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Iran against what he called attempts to “blackmail” Washington over the Strait of Hormuz. His warning came after Tehran moved again to restrict the strategic waterway, after briefly reopening it on Friday. Iran’s military command accused the US of breaking commitments by maintaining a naval blockade on ships linked to Iranian ports.

Trump Warns Iran Against ‘Blackmail’

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the US was in talks with Iran but rejected its actions, stating that “they can’t blackmail us” through repeated moves to close the strait. “We're talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again…you know, as they've been doing for years and they can't blackmail us,” Trump said.

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While he rejected Tehran’s actions, Trump also indicated the possibility of a peace deal. “They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years. It's actually going along very well, and we'll see, but we'll have some information by the end of the day,” Trump added. His remark also comes after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the US that the country’s navy is ready to inflict “new bitter defeats” on its enemies.

Hormuz To Remain Under Strict Control

In a statement posted on Telegram, Mojtaba said that Iran’s “brave navy stands ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats." The Supreme Leader, who has not been seen in public since the outbreak of war on February 28, continues to address the nation through official channels. Meanwhile, Iran's military command has declared that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz would remain under strict control until the US restores free movement for all vessels.

“Until the United States restores freedom of movement for all vessels visiting Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will remain strictly controlled,’’ the statement noted. Amid these developments, at least two merchant vessels were reportedly hit by gunfire while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.

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