US-Israel-Iran War Live News: A fresh war of words between Washington and Tehran has shifted the focus from control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to the personal security of US President Donald Trump. On Sunday, senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi used reports of a secret aircraft switch during Trump’s Turkey trip to mock the US president after he threatened to claim the waterway as American territory.
Azizi, who chairs the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, accused Trump of making “endless bluffs” over the Strait of Hormuz and warned him to focus on his own safety.
“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,” Ebrahim Azizi wrote on X.
The U.S. 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.
— ابراهیم عزیزی (@Ebrahimazizi33) August 15, 2026
His remarks came after Trump said the United States could claim the Strait of Hormuz following what he described as the complete defeat of Iran. The comments have added another layer to an already tense confrontation between the two countries over the crucial shipping route.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Why Iran is Angry Over Trump’s Hormuz Claim
Trump said the US would seek to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory after defeating Iran. He also claimed that the US Navy was maintaining a full blockade of the strategic waterway.
“Once we have completely defeated Iran, I will soon declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory,” Trump said.
The statement immediately drew criticism from Tehran. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected the idea that Washington could simply take control of the waterway.
Gharibabadi said the strait “cannot be seized by a tweet, an aircraft carrier, an executive order or a campaign speech”, adding that Iran “neither fears threats nor can be intimidated by shows of force.”
Iran has repeatedly opposed attempts by outside powers to increase their military role around the Strait of Hormuz. Gharibabadi previously said the waterway’s security should remain the responsibility of the countries located around it.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: What is Behind the ‘Food Truck’ Taunt?
Azizi’s reference to a food truck relates to Trump’s departure from Ankara during the NATO summit in Turkey in July.
According to reports, US security officials secretly moved Trump from the aircraft that the public believed he would use to leave Turkey. He was reportedly transferred to a smaller C-32A military aircraft after a credible security threat emerged.
Reuters reported that the operation involved moving Trump and a small group of aides across the airport in a catering truck. The larger aircraft remained part of the deception, with journalists and some officials initially believing that Trump was still aboard it.
Trump has since confirmed that his security team advised him to change aircraft. The reported threat has been linked to concerns about a possible Iranian attack, although the full details of the intelligence have not been publicly established.
That episode has now become political ammunition for Tehran, with Azizi using it to challenge Trump’s latest threats over Hormuz.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: White House Calls Trump’s Hormuz Comment a Joke
The controversy has also prompted clarification from Washington.
A White House official said Trump was “joking” when he talked about declaring the Strait of Hormuz US territory. The official also indicated that Trump had not discussed such a move with his advisers.
Despite that explanation, the comments have added to uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran confrontation. The Strait remains at the centre of the dispute because of its importance to global energy and maritime trade.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A major share of the world’s seaborne oil and gas trade passes through the narrow waterway, making any disruption there a major concern for energy markets and shipping companies.
The United States has maintained pressure on Iran through military and economic measures, while Tehran continues to assert its authority over the waterway. Recent US-Iran tensions have also involved attacks on commercial shipping and disputes over whether the strait should remain open to international traffic.
The latest exchange between Trump and Azizi therefore goes beyond political rhetoric. It highlights the wider struggle between Washington and Tehran over military pressure, maritime access and control of one of the world’s most important energy routes.
US-Israel-Iran War Live News: US-Iran Tensions Continue
For now, Trump’s territorial claim remains disputed by Iran, while the White House has described his statement as a joke. Tehran, however, has shown no sign of accepting any US attempt to assert control over the waterway.
Azizi’s latest remarks suggest that Iranian officials intend to respond to Trump’s threats with equally sharp rhetoric as the confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz continues.
