Fact Check: Did Iran say it'll release audio of Trump begging, crying to open Hormuz Strait?
WASHINGTON, DC: As the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to the United States, driving up gas prices, a rumor is circulating online that Iran said it would release audio of President Donald Trump begging and crying to open the strait. The claim has sparked speculation online, prompting a fact check.
Claim: Iran to release audio of Trump begging to open Hormuz Strait
The claim appeared as a post on X, which stated, “Iranian officials say they will soon release the audio of several voicemails Donald Trump left them in which he begs, threatens, attempts to bribe, and finally cries for them to open up the Strait of Hormuz so gas prices will go down before Americans vote on November 3.”
The post has garnered tens of thousands of views as of this writing and is amplified by online users who appear to believe the claim is true, while others express skepticism.
Fact Check: The claim originated as satire
The claim, however, is false, as there is no evidence of the Islamic Republic claiming that Trump begged, threatened, cried, and even made attempts to bribe to open the vital strait.
No official statements, announcements, or press releases from the Iranian government or the IRGC media support the claim.
If the claim were true, prominent news outlets would have published it widely, given the pressure and criticism of the Trump administration over the conflict in the Middle East and rising gas prices.
Additionally, the claim originated from a parody account called ‘The Halfway Post,’ which describes itself in the bio as ‘satire.’
Donald Trump blames Democrats for gas price rise
The claim surfaced after Trump recently pointed to refineries being closed in “Blue States, like California, by the Democrats,” and not the Hormuz closure, as a reason for soaring gas prices.
In a Truth Social post on October 5, Trump wrote, “What's driving up Gasoline is no longer the Strait of Hormuz, because Record Numbers of Barrels are coming out now on an almost daily basis, but the word ' refineries, ' where Russia's are being blown up by Ukraine, and where ours are being closed up, in Blue States, like California, by the Dumocrats. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump’s comment came as Brent crude remained above $100 a barrel and US drivers continue to face elevated fuel costs amid disruptions linked to the Iran and Ukraine wars.
