Trump, in a post on Truth Social, threatened that if Iran takes further actions against international shipping in this strategically important area, the United States would strike in such a way that the country "will never be able to recover." He added that Iran could face "death, fire, and fury."
In his response on platform X, Larijani stated that the Iranian people are not afraid of "empty threats" and warned Trump to "be careful." Many media outlets interpreted this as a clear or veiled threat against the American president.
This exchange of accusations occurs against the backdrop of an escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28 as a result of attacks on Iranian territory, during which, according to Reuters, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense. Iran had previously threatened to close the strait and open fire on vessels attempting to cross it. Shipping in the area has effectively come to a halt.
