Iranian MP says US fuel prices, not rhetoric, will decide Strait of Hormuz status

Ali Nikzad, deputy speaker of Iran's parliament, said in a pre-agenda speech during the chamber's open session that fuel price indicators in the United States, rather than statements by American officials, will determine whether the Strait of Hormuz remains open or closed. He dismissed what he described as empty tweets by US officials, including President Donald Trump.

Nikzad referred to Trump's recent claims as a sign of desperation. He said it is natural for a country described as a superpower to avoid acknowledging what he called a defeat at the hands of the Iranian nation, adding that reality is determined on the battlefield rather than through rhetoric. He did not provide further details on the specific claims he was responding to.

Turning to the US invasion of Iraq, Nikzad said Washington had intended to turn Iraq into the 51st US state but was instead forced to withdraw, leaving behind what he called a powerful Iraq. He cited US casualties of 10,000 dead and 31,000 wounded in that conflict. The figures could not be independently verified from the source material.

Nikzad said Trump's threats are intended for domestic purposes, particularly to influence US elections, and carry no weight on the ground. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to respond to any renewed US aggression with a response he described as firmer, more crushing, and more severe than before.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran over regional security and the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil shipments. According to Mehr News, the speech was delivered during an open session of the Iranian parliament.