Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Iran has proved itself “a tough and invincible power” by resisting the US and Israel, as collapsing shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz pushes oil prices higher.

“I have heard this many times from foreign ministers and officials from other countries: ‘You Iranians created a miracle; you surprised the whole world,’” Araghchi told a televised news conference covered by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Tuesday.

“No one thought that Iran could resist America like this,” he said, noting that Washington entered the war with Israeli, western and other international support.

“The US president wrote two words [on social media] at the beginning of the war: ‘Unconditional surrender’,” Araghchi said.

“That was what they wanted from us and, 20 days later, the same enemy was begging for negotiations.”