Iran’s central military command on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s vital infrastructure if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
Trump had posted a warning to Truth Social, writing, "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!"
General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi later said in a statement quoted by AFP that Trump’s threat was “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action".
He further warned that “the simple meaning of this message is that the gates of hell will open for you".
Since the start of the current conflict, Iran has effectively closed or severely impeded the Strait of Hormuz by declaring it "closed," threatening attacks on commercial vessels, deploying assets like fast boats, drones, missiles, and laying some naval mines.
On Wednesday, Trump claimed that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asked the US for a ceasefire.
"Iran’s new regime president, much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!" the President announced on Truth Social.
Trump set a condition for the ceasefire: "We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!"
Iran denied Trump’s claim, with its Foreign Ministry calling it "false and baseless."
In a separate statement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that the Strait of Hormuz "is firmly and decisively under the control" of its forces.
"This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States," it added.