Iran's Military Commander: U.S. Forces Expelled, Permanently Banned from Strait of Hormuz
Nashnova编辑部
Iran's armed forces commander Hatami declared the U.S. military expelled and permanently barred from the Strait of Hormuz, offering bounties for capturing American "aggressors." This means → the world's most critical oil chokepoint is heading toward a sovereignty collision that could jolt crude prices and shipping costs.
What exactly did Iran say?
Iran's armed forces commander Hatami said on the 16th that U.S. forces have been expelled and will no longer be permitted to enter the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, or the Strait of Hormuz.
He labeled the strait a "geopolitical resource" belonging to the Iranian people, calling this "leverage" irreversible — and said U.S. military bases cannot be restored.
This means → Iran's military has formally elevated strait control from a diplomatic issue to a military red line — the strongest language to date.
What does the bounty signal?
Hatami announced that any Iranian who captures or kills an American "aggressor" will receive 5 billion tomans (roughly $30,000), funded by "the Iranian people."
Responding to Trump's claim that the U.S. would declare the strait American territory after "defeating Iran," Hatami said: "That is nonsense — the defenders here will break your legs."
In plain terms = the bounty amount is modest, but the political signal is loud — Iran is mobilizing domestic sentiment while drawing a line of personal-threat-level confrontation with the U.S.
What has Trump done on his side?
In March, Trump proposed renaming the Strait of Hormuz to "the Strait of America." In April, he posted a map on social media relabeling it "the Trump Strait."
In July, he declared the U.S. would reimpose a naval blockade on Iran, appoint itself "guardian of the Strait of Hormuz," and charge a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the waterway.
On August 10 and 12, Trump said the U.S. would "one hundred percent" control the strait. This reflects both sides treating strait sovereignty as domestic political currency — and escalating the bids.
Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter so much?
The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman — is the world's most critical oil-transit chokepoint. Roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption passes through it.
Any substantive interference with passage rights would directly push up international crude prices and global shipping insurance premiums.
In plain terms = this strait is the throat of global energy — squeeze it and oil prices react instantly. The more the two sides escalate, the more the market tightens.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.