Iran Rejects Donald Trump’s ‘Guardian’ Claims, Vows Forceful Response to US Military Interference in Strait of Hormuz

Tehran, July 13: Iran on Monday (local time) issued a stern warning against the US while reaffirming its authority over the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic dismissed Washington's intervention in its management shortly after US President Donald Trump claimed control over the critical chokehold. According to Press TV, the spokesperson of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, affirmed that Iran will not, "under any circumstances, allow the US to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz".

He further vowed strong retaliation against any US military for the passage of the commercial vessels and oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, "outside Iran's designated shipping route and without authorisation from Iran's armed forces". The spokesperson called the IRGC's recent actions "evidence" of Iran's stance. "Iran's Armed Forces will respond forcefully to any disruption to the passage of commercial vessels and oil tankers by the invading US military outside Iran's designated shipping route and without authorisation from Iran's armed forces. The recent actions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran are evidence of this," Press TV quoted him as saying. US-Iran Ceasefire Collapses As Fresh Strikes, Strait of Hormuz Closure Deepen Middle East Crisis.

The spokesperson also issued a warning to the Gulf nations, stating that any logistical support to the US will be considered "an act of war against Iran." "Regional leaders are warned that any cooperation with the US or logistical support for its invading military will be regarded as an act of war against Iran's sovereignty and national security," he said.He added that "Should the conflict  expand, the flames of war will engulf all countries in the region". The spokesperson further accused the US of escalating the conflict, Press TV reported.

"The US and the countries cooperating with its military bear full responsibility for all insecurity and the escalation of the conflict in the region," he said. Meanwhile, the IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Mohebi also condemned US actions in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of "jeopardising" global oil and gas security and reclaiming Iran's authority over the chokepoint, according to Press TV. "The US has seriously jeopardised global oil and gas security by interfering in the Strait of Hormuz and must be held accountable," he stated.

"Iran will continue to exercise its sovereignty and authority over the Strait of Hormuz," he said, adding that Iran "will compel foreign powers and their allies to submit to the will of the Iranian nation". Responding to the US' claim of neutralising Iranian military, he stated that the Iranian forces will leave the American military "even more humiliated and helpless." "Just as we reduced US leaders' initial objectives at the start of their aggression to merely reopening the Strait of Hormuz, we will leave them even more humiliated and helpless in response to their latest hostile actions," he claimed, Press TV reported. Donald Trump Says US Will Reinstate Iran Naval Blockade, Proposes 20% Cargo Reimbursement.

The remarks come after Trump on Monday (local time) reclaimed control over the Strait of Hormuz and designated the United States as the "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait", announcing a newly reinstated maritime blockade targeted exclusively at Iran. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, reflecting on his claim, assured that international maritime traffic through the critical shipping lane would not be closed to the rest of the world despite escalating regional tensions.

"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump said. "We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran's ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait," he wrote. Justifying the new title and role for the US military presence in the critical chokehold, Trump claimed that a 20 per cent levy on transiting cargo is a necessary measure to cover the operational expenses of securing the volatile shipping lane.

"The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,' but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World. President DONALD J. TRUMP," he added. The president added that the deployment and institutionalisation of this protection-and-reimbursement model would be enacted without delay, concluding that "the process and formation will begin immediately."

Meanwhile, the US military attacked a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran on Sunday, CENTCOM said in a post on X. "Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations," CENTCOM wrote. This follows Trump's previous warning against Iran, in which he claimed to take over the critical chokehold, the Strait of Hormuz, while condemning Tehran for dishonouring the ceasefire agreement amid the ongoing unrest.

In a telephonic interview with Fox News, Trump asserted that Iran broke a "done deal", agreed just the night before. Expressing his infuriation over Iran's actions, the US president said, "It looks like they're back at their business trying to take over the Strait. We're taking over the Strait. They have nothing." "Yesterday, they had an 11-hour meeting and everything was agreed to yesterday. They leave the room and they call back and they say, 'we had to make a couple of changes'... for 47 years, they've been tapping people along... this should've been done 47 years ago," he added.

He further lashed out at the Iranian leadership for disregarding the truce agreements, claiming that the two sides have had "10 deals" in the past, calling them "a bad group of people". He further revealed that the US hammered Iranian equipment in overnight strikes. Prior to Trump's claims, Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned US strikes against Tehran and accused Washington of disrupting global commercial shipping by interfering with security arrangements in the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

In a formal statement posted on X, the ministry argued that recent US actions have put international maritime trade at risk and re-ignited active conflict in the region. The ministry strongly condemned a wave of aggressive, brutal US attacks carried out over the past 24 hours. According to Iranian officials, these strikes represent a gross violation of United Nations Charter principles and pose a "severe threat" to global peace.

"Iran's MFA strongly condemns US aggressive attacks against Iran over the past 24 hours. These brutal attacks constitute a gross violation of the UN Charter principles, notably Art. 2(4), and pose a severe threat to international peace and security," the post read. The Ministry charged that the US has already broken nearly all provisions of the ceasefire agreement, "just after 25 days...by striking Iran's transport infrastructure, fishing boats, cargo barges, and meteorological facilities, committing heinous war crimes."

Earlier in the day, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) made an announcement by the American military that it had conducted a fresh series of offensive strikes on 12 July, hitting dozens of locations throughout Iran. In an official statement released alongside the footage, CENTCOM detailed that American forces targeted Iranian air defence infrastructure, coastal radar facilities, missile and drone infrastructure, and fast-attack military craft. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, Al Jazeera reported.

In response, the General Command of Bahrain's Defence Forces said that its "air defence systems successfully confronted, intercepted, and destroyed a number of treacherous Iranian aerial attacks this morning. "Expressing strong condemnation of the Iranian military actions, the General Command, in an official statement, affirmed its "complete defensive preparedness to protect the Kingdom."

"The General Command affirms that the personnel of the Royal Field Engineering Unit are fully prepared to handle these objects technically and safely, ensuring the public safety of all citizens and residents," the General Command stated. Earlier in the day, the Kuwait Armed Forces released a statement saying it was currently engaging "hostile aerial targets" within Kuwaiti airspace. The post said, "The Kuwait Armed Forces are currently engaging hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace."

The Armed Forces also said that "any explosion sounds" heard during the engagement were the result of air-defence systems intercepting the incoming strikes. "The General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces announces that any explosion sounds that may be heard are the result of the Air Defence systems intercepting hostile attacks," the post added. It further urged the public to follow official guidance, saying, "The public is urged to follow the safety and security instructions issued by the relevant authorities."

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that Jordan's military said it had intercepted and downed "four missiles that entered Jordanian airspace" after they were fired from Iranian territory. However, the IRGC maintains that its operations were made in retaliation for the US' attacks and the support from the Gulf nations.