Iran brands Trump an ‘unstable, delusional figure’ after president’s expletive-laden warning over Strait of Hormuz closure

Iran’s culture minister has branded Donald Trump an ‘unstable, delusional figure’.

Sayed Reza Salihi-Amiri said: ‘Iranian society generally does not pay attention to his statements, as it believes he lacks personal, behavioral and verbal balance, and constantly shifts between contradictory positions.’

Trump earlier warned he would strike the regime’s power plants and bridges this Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to marine traffic.

In an angry Truth Social post, Trump promised the Iranians would be ‘living in Hell’ if the waterway isn’t opened.

‘It seems Trump has become a phenomenon that neither Iranians nor Americans are able to fully analyze,’ said Salihi-Amiri.

He said the Strait of Hormuz is ‘open to the world but closed to Iran’s enemies.’

Images have emerged from Tehran of a huge banner on the side of a building depicting Iranian soldiers carrying a netted bag filled with US military vehicles.

Written above the image are the chilling words: ‘The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed; the entire Persian Gulf is our hunting ground’.

It comes after Trump ramped up pressure on Iran, warning that Hell will rain down on them if a deal is not reached regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

A top Iranian official has threatened to shut the Bab-el-Mandeb strait as the global economy continues to reel from the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Ali Akbar Velayati, the regime’s former foreign minister and adviser to the supreme leader said the ‘resistance front’ could target the strait off the Red Sea.

Around 12 per cent of the world’s trade passes daily through Bab-el-Mandeb, which separates the Horn of Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Akbar Velayati said: ‘If the White House thinks of repeating its stupid mistakes, it will quickly realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single signal.

Iran leads the so-called ‘Axis of Resistance,’ which includes armed groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, where Houthi rebels had in the past cut off transit through Bab el-Mandeb with attacks on vessels.

Iran has effectively stopped cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict, leading to higher oil and gas prices globally.

Donald Trump has posted a cryptic message on Truth Social, simply writing: ‘Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!’

The US President earlier said Iran had a deadline of Monday to make a deal.

He wrote on Saturday morning: ‘Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them.

It is not yet clear what Mr Trump means by referring to 8pm Eastern Time, which is 3:30am on Wednsday in Tehran, but he warned Iran they would be ‘living in Hell’ by Tuesday if they don’t make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The US Central Command has confirmed the rescue of two US troops following the downing of a fighter jet.

In a statement it said: ‘On April 4, US forces successfully completed the rescues of two American service members from Iran after their F-15E fighter jet was shot down April 2 during a combat mission.

‘The service members were safely recovered during separate search and rescue missions.

‘US strikes into Iran continue as US Central Command forces dismantle the Iranian regime’s ability to project power beyond its borders.’

Iranian state TV has claimed Ahvaz Shahid Soleimani airport has been hit by US-Israeli strikes.

The international airport, now officially known as Qasem Soleimani International Airport, named after the late Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, was struck on Sunday although no casualties have been reported.

Also on Sunday, the United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah government said that Khor Fakkan port was targeted and that no casualties were reported .

Earlier, UKMTO said that a captain had witnessed multiple splashes from unknown projectiles near his vessel while conducting loading operations at the same port.

The main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria was closed Sunday after the Israeli military warned of plans to strike it the night before, alleging that Hezbollah was using it to smuggle military equipment.

Samir Abdelkhaleq from the Lebanese border town of Majdal Anjar said the closure is an economic blow to many.

‘These are real losses for people and for business owners,’ he said. ‘Everyone is just waiting for the strike to be over.’

Syrian authorities, who have a hostile relationship with Hezbollah, have denied that the crossing is being used for smuggling.

In recent days, Syria announced the discovery and closure of several tunnels they said were being used by Hezbollah for smuggling.

More than 200,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria in the five weeks since the outbreak of renewed war between Israel and Hezbollah.

China is willing to continue to cooperate with Russia at the UN Security Council and make efforts to cool down the Middle East situation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone call, state agency Xinhua reported.

Wang said the fundamental way to resolve navigation issues in the Strait of Hormuz is to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible, adding that China has always advocated a political settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue and negotiation.