Iran fires back after Trump threat: ‘Strait of Hormuz is not your personal casino’
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump and Iran exchanged fresh threats this week after Tehran reacted sharply to the US president's warning over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes.
The latest war of words unfolded on Monday, June 22, as negotiations aimed at securing a longer-term peace agreement continued behind the scenes.
Donald Trump warns Iran against closing Strait of Hormuz
Tensions escalated after Trump reportedly warned Iranian officials about the consequences of shutting down the Strait of Hormuz again.
According to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, the president said he had delivered a blunt message to Tehran.
"You close [the strait], and you won't have a country," Trump warned.
"You close it, and you won't have a country. You won't even make it back to your f---ing country."
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 21, 2026
President Trump recounts what he told Iranian leaders after they threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump detailed the ongoing negotiations in a call with @TreyYingst as US… pic.twitter.com/p0tZCdEhj5
The remark came after Iran's Revolutionary Guards reportedly declared the strategic waterway shut once again following Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important global routes for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Any disruption in the area has the potential to affect international energy markets and global trade.
Trump's comments indicated that the administration views any attempt to block the passage as a major escalation.
The president's warning also came as senior US officials continued working on negotiations designed to prevent a larger conflict in the region.
Ebrahim Azizi says Strait of Hormuz is ‘not your personal casino’
Iran quickly responded to Trump's remarks.
Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, pushed back in a strongly worded social media post directed at the US president.
"You make threats; we take action," Azizi wrote.
You make threats; we take action.
— ابراهیم عزیزی (@Ebrahimazizi33) June 22, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz is neither your personal casino nor the backyard of modern-day pirates; these are Iranian sovereign waters, and the ultimate decision rests with the noble people of Iran and its brave armed forces.”
He followed that with an even sharper message.
"The Strait of Hormuz is neither your personal casino nor the backyard of modern-day pirates; these are Iranian sovereign waters, and the ultimate decision rests with the noble people of Iran and its brave armed forces."
The response emphasized Tehran's position that decisions regarding the waterway ultimately belong to Iran.
United States and Iran continue talks despite rising tensions
Even as the rhetoric intensified, diplomatic efforts appeared to move forward.
Negotiators for the United States and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend to discuss a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar later announced that both sides had agreed to a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days.
The mediators also said the parties had established a mechanism intended to help end fighting between Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
In addition, officials opened a communications channel designed to help guarantee safe passage for commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
Technical discussions are expected to continue throughout the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, according to a joint statement released after the talks.
While tensions remained high publicly, US officials projected optimism about the negotiations.
Vice President JD Vance said discussions had already produced meaningful progress.
"We laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal," Vance told reporters.
