TEHRAN – Iran’s military has rejected any US role in determining the future of the Strait of Hormuz, insisting the strategic waterway cannot be controlled through “war, aggression or coercion.”
Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, spokesperson for the Iranian Army, said respect for the rights of the Iranian people was the only path to ensuring free passage through the strait. He also said Iran remained committed to avenging those it regards as martyrs, including the late Supreme Leader, according to Iranian media.
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would reinstate a naval blockade on Iran and impose a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States would act as the “guardian” of the vital shipping route.
Iran’s Joint Chiefs of Staff responded by saying the United States has no authority over the strait and would not be allowed to interfere in its future. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also rejected Trump’s remarks, saying Iran has long safeguarded the waterway and would continue to do so.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it launched ballistic missiles at a US air base in Jordan and urged Jordanians to oppose the presence of American military bases in the country.
Jordan’s armed forces said they intercepted and destroyed four missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace from Iran, without providing further details on their intended targets.
The developments came as the US military carried out a third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets. US Central Command said the attacks were conducted on President Trump’s orders, targeting what it described as Iranian military capabilities linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
In Bahrain, authorities said the country’s air defence systems intercepted and destroyed Iranian aerial threats over its territory.
Separately, German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd criticised the proposed US cargo transit fee, saying imposing charges for passage through international waters would be fundamentally inappropriate.
The company added that it was unable to estimate the financial impact of the escalating tensions in the Gulf region on its operations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, handling a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
