Trump links the rise in gasoline prices to the destruction of Russian oil refineries, not to the Strait of Hormuz

(CNN) - US President Donald Trump, on Monday, attributed the reason for the rise in gasoline prices in the United States to the destruction of Russian oil refineries, denying that the reason was the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform: “The Strait of Hormuz is no longer the reason behind the rise in gasoline prices. Record amounts of oil are now being pumped almost daily.”

He continued: "The problem lies in the refineries. Russian refineries are being destroyed by Ukraine, while our refineries are closed in states controlled by Democrats (blue states) - such as California."

On Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf reiterated his country’s position that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the seven conditions set by Iran are met, criticizing what he described as the “contradiction” in American rhetoric between the military threat and the declaration of a desire to negotiate.

Qalibaf said that these conditions are based on the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad between Iran and the United States, noting that “Iran will not mortgage its national security to statements or tweets issued by American officials,” as quoted by the official Iranian “IRNA” news agency.

He added, "The proposals presented by Washington through mediators will not change the stability of the Iranian position, as the time of imposing unilateral dictates and demands has ended," according to what the IRNA agency quoted him as saying.

Last month, the US President announced that he expected talks to continue with Iran, after rejecting an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.