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With the ongoing war in West Asia, Iran has turned to social media to wage a parallel online warfare, deploying sharp, cheeky memes and bold trolling targeting US President Donald Trump’s audacious claims about the military campaign and the Strait of Hormuz.
For the last few weeks, Iranian embassies have used memes, AI-generated images and satirical quotes to troll Trump’s bold remarks on his Truth Social platform. After Trump announced that a US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would remain in place despite Tehran reopening the crucial waterway, the Iranian embassy in South Africa again used humour to display the country’s defiant stance.
For context, Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz after a ceasefire agreement was reached. After this, Trump
went on a mega messaging spree, saying the US blockade would remain until a deal is finalised and that Iran has agreed to never close the strait again. He also claimed that Iran would hand over its “nuclear dust” to the US and also removed all sea mines.
In response to Trump’s messages, Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said Trump made “seven false claims in an hour” and said Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz if the US blockade continues. “Whether the Strait is open or closed and the regulations governing it will be determined by the field, not by social media,” he said.
“Permits for passage through the Strait of Hormuz are not granted via social media,” the Iranian embassy in South Africa wrote on X.
Permits for passage through the Strait of Hormuz are not granted via social media. https://t.co/pupQXXDkFC
— Iran Embassy SA (@IraninSA) April 17, 2026
Prior to this, the Iranian embassy in Zimbabwe also mocked Trump, telling him to turn off the phone, block Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, eat a light dinner and go to sleep. “Try not to show yourself too happy. Have a little prestige; 2. Never, (emphasise) never think to the new legal regime of the Strait of Iran. We will fix it,” it said.
ALSO READ: ‘Turn Off Phone, Block Bibi & Sleep Well’: Iran Roasts Trump Over Hormuz Claims
Iran has said all ships must coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) before transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which was not the case before the war. Iran’s Defense Ministry said in a statement quoted by state television that military vessels and ships linked to “hostile forces”, the US and Israel, were still not permitted to pass.
Shipping companies and countries cautiously welcomed Iran’s announcement but said they would require clarifications, including about the risk of mines, before vessels move through the entry point to the Gulf.
