Araghchi said intelligence failures had repeatedly led the United States to make wrong assessments and warned that the Strait of Hormuz could become another example of such a miscalculation.
According to CNN, Araghchi made the remarks on Thursday in response to Trump’s recent claim that the United States had established complete control over the strategic waterway amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
In a post on X, Araghchi said that “fake intelligence” was even worse than fake news. He argued that the United States had a long history of intelligence failures and described the ongoing war with Iran as a clear example of flawed assessments.
The Iranian foreign minister warned that Washington could now face an even greater miscalculation over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump had claimed a day earlier that the United States would maintain control over the Strait. Describing the US naval blockade as an “iron wall,” he said Iran was unable to do anything about it.
The US president also claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened, saying the country no longer had a navy or air force and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had also suffered significant losses.
Iran has strongly rejected these claims. The country’s Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz authorities have maintained that statements from US officials do not determine the status of the waterway and that the Strait will not be fully reopened until Iran’s conditions are met.
The conflicting claims come as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply compared with pre-war levels. Before the conflict, around 130 to 140 vessels passed through the waterway each day, while recent traffic has dropped to only a handful of ships.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Before the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passed through the waterway. Disruptions to shipping have placed additional pressure on global energy markets.
The dispute over the Strait comes as Washington and Tehran continue to signal possible diplomatic engagement. Trump recently indicated that talks with Iran were being pursued quietly. In an interview with Axios on August 9, he said the United States was holding limited-level discussions with Iran while monitoring its economic situation.
The Strait of Hormuz has therefore become more than a maritime issue in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation. It is also a major strategic and diplomatic pressure point, with both sides using their positions over the waterway as part of their broader regional strategy.
Araghchi’s latest remarks underline Tehran’s refusal to accept Washington’s claim of dominance over the Strait and reflect Iran’s warning that miscalculations based on intelligence assessments could further escalate an already tense regional situation.
