Delimitation bill: Row over the north-south divide explained

A sharp war of words has erupted after Donald Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz is open, even as the U.S. naval blockade on Iran remains in force. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hit back with a fierce warning, threatening to shut the critical waterway — through which nearly 20% of the world’s crude oil flows — if Washington continues its pressure campaign. He made it clear that any passage through the strait would depend on Iranian authorization, signaling Tehran’s intent to control movement in the region. In a series of sharp remarks, Ghalibaf accused Trump of spreading false claims and attempting to shape global opinion through “media warfare.” He dismissed the U.S. stance as ineffective, warning that such tactics would fail both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.