TEHRAN: Iran has strongly reacted to remarks by Donald Trump in which he boasted that the U.S. Navy was acting “like pirates” in enforcing Washington’s naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said in a post on X on Saturday that the U.S. President had openly described the unlawful seizure of Iranian vessels as “piracy,” and had boasted that “we act like pirates.”
He stated that this was not a verbal slip, but rather a “direct and damning admission” of the criminal nature of U.S. actions against international maritime navigation.
Baghaei further called on the international community, United Nations member states, and the UN Secretary-General to firmly reject any normalization of what he described as blatant violations of international law.
According to Iranian statements, Trump ordered the blockade on April 13 after announcing a two-week ceasefire in what Tehran described as unprovoked attacks against Iran.
Iran also said that after the expiry of the ceasefire, the U.S. continued the blockade in violation of its terms.
The blockade has reportedly involved American forces seizing several Iranian vessels along with their cargo, crew members, and in some cases, their families.
Meanwhile, Tehran has officially lodged protests with the United Nations over the blockade, while stating that it reserves the right to take defensive action in response.