Updated

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the Strait of Hormuz remains and will remain under Iran's full control, pushing back against international concerns over maritime security in the vital oil shipping route. He blamed the United States for regional insecurity and the resulting spike in global fuel prices, saying international actors upset about rising costs should direct their criticism at Washington rather than Tehran. The statement comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf following recent US strikes on Iranian tankers and a broader surge in oil prices, as Iran seeks to project continued authority over the strategic waterway despite US military pressure in the region.