On day 11 of the Iran–US–Israel conflict, tensions along the Strait of Hormuz remain extremely high after a sharp exchange between Tehran and Washington.
Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, rejected U.S. threats, asserting that the Ashoora‑loving Iranian people do not fear “empty threats.” Larijani’s comments came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump warning that Iran would be hit “twenty times harder” if it attempted to disrupt oil flow through the strait — a crucial route for nearly 20% of the world’s petroleum.
In a post on social platform X, Larijani emphasized Iran’s resilience, saying that even powers stronger than the U.S. had failed to eliminate the Iranian nation and warned Washington to “watch out for yourself — lest you be eliminated.” He also stated that the Strait of Hormuz could either be a passage of “peace and prosperity” or “defeat and suffering for warmongers.”
Trump’s earlier threat included promises of devastating retaliation — “Death, Fire, and Fury” — and targeting easily destroyable sites to make rebuilding Iran “virtually impossible.” The strategic standoff highlights not only military escalation but also sharp messaging and ideological defiance from both sides.