A senior Iranian lawmaker lashed out at President Donald Trump over his threat to claim the Strait of Hormuz for the United States, appearing to warn the president about his personal security while mocking recent precautions taken amid assassination concerns.

Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security Commission, invoked reports that Trump had recently been transported between aircraft in a catering vehicle as part of heightened security measures.

“The US President ought to worry about his own security rather than his endless bluffing regarding the Strait of Hormuz; before he ends up hiding in a food truck,” Azizi wrote in a social media post.

The remarks came after Trump told supporters at a campaign rally on Long Island on Friday that the United States would assert control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz once Iran is defeated.

“After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon, I will be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” Trump told the crowd.

Trump also portrayed Iran’s leadership structure as having been severely depleted, saying that the loss of senior officials has complicated efforts to negotiate with Tehran.

The president said Iran has “no leadership. Their leadership is gone. Their second tier is gone. The third tier is half gone. That’s one of my problems, that there is nobody to negotiate with. It’s a problem. It’s the only country in the world where nobody wants to be president.”

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump’s comments by insisting that Iran alone retains authority over passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He said Tehran would continue its naval blockade until the United States recognizes what he described as its “strategic defeat.”

“Once and for all, accept the reality: up to this point, you have suffered strategic and heavy defeats; the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Gharibabadi stated on social media.

Gharibabadi went on to declare that Tehran would determine when the crucial shipping route is opened or closed and vowed that the blockade would remain in effect unless Washington changes course.

“This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade.”

{Matzav.com}