Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US fulfills Tehran's demands, which include ending the naval blockade, paying compensation for war damage, lifting economic sanctions, and releasing frozen Iranian assets. The statement was a direct response to US President Donald Trump, who over the weekend said he was "low-keying it" with Iran and compared the negotiations to a chess game. Baghaei retorted that Iranians had "shown they are professional chess players," signaling Tehran's firm stance.