Iran has told the United States to “accept defeat” as President Donald Trump described Iran as “evil” and warned Americans to expect fuel prices to remain high.
The comments showed that Washington and Tehran remain far apart, with peace talks stalled and oil tanker traffic through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz almost completely stopped.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on X early Saturday that Iran would continue controlling traffic through the strait until the US accepts what he called 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,” Gharibabadi said.
“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet or an aircraft carrier, by issuing an order or by delivering an election speech,” he added.
Before the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, around one in every five barrels of the world’s oil exports passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump, meanwhile, told Americans on Friday that they may have to pay slightly more for petrol while the conflict with Iran continues.
Speaking at a political rally in Garden City, New York, Trump said paying “a tiny little bit more for your gasoline” was worth it to prevent what he called “a very evil country” from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon has been one of Trump’s stated reasons for the war.
The average price of petrol in the US was around $4.08 a gallon on Friday, according to the American Automobile Association. That is 29% higher than the $3.16 recorded a year earlier.
Strait Of Hormuz Traffic Almost Stops
Only two vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler. One was a grain ship entering Iranian waters, while the other was an empty dry bulk carrier travelling in the opposite direction.
A separate empty liquefied petroleum gas tanker was also heading into the Gulf through the strait. No crude oil shipments were seen.
Some ships may have crossed the strait with their tracking systems switched off, but traffic remains far below the more than 130 vessels that passed through the waterway every day before the war.
Ships attempting to cross without Iranian permission risk missile or drone attacks.
The United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said two of its vessels were attacked while travelling through the strait on Thursday evening. UAE state news agency WAM later reported that another vessel was attacked on Friday.
Iran describes its control over shipping through the strait as a blockade. The US uses the same term for its threat against Iranian vessels leaving the country’s ports.
Trump defended the US military campaign, saying: “What we’re doing is a great service for the world, not only for ourselves … and we’re really doing a great job.”
He also said a 260-day deployment by a US aircraft carrier supporting the war effort was “not nearly long enough.”
Peace Talks Remain Stalled
A tentative agreement reached in June to end the war has now fallen apart, with no clear sign that Washington and Tehran are ready to resume peace talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said no decision had been made to restart negotiations with the US, Iran’s Iranian Student News Agency reported on Saturday.
Qatar and Pakistan have been in contact with Iran and exchanging messages, but the agency said this did not amount to formal negotiations.
Higher Oil Prices Add To Economic Pressure
The rise in fuel prices comes as Trump faces pressure over his campaign promise to reduce energy costs. Democrats are also seeking to make the economic impact of the Iran war an issue in the November midterm elections.
The near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed crude oil futures up by another $1 a barrel on Friday. Brent crude was on track for a weekly gain of 6%, while West Texas Intermediate was set to rise 5.4%.
Iran is also facing growing economic pressure.
Gharibabadi said Tehran would not be intimidated by US threats or displays of military power. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking on state television, blamed high inflation on what he described as a US blockade of Iranian ports and sanctions on Iran’s oil exports.
Trump and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have both promised further financial pressure on Iran. Bessent told Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight” programme on Thursday that more measures against Iran would be announced next week.