US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has “total control” of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, insisting that Washington intends to maintain its hold over the crucial waterway.
Trump made the statement on Wednesday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he said the US naval blockade in the region had become a “wall of steel” that Iran could not overcome.
“The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!” Trump wrote.
He added that there was “nothing Iran can do” to challenge the US naval presence in the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime routes, serving as a key passage for the transportation of crude oil, natural gas and other commodities from the Middle East to global markets.
Iran, however, has disputed Trump’s claim, maintaining that it controls significant portions of the waterway. Tehran has also threatened to introduce a toll system in response to the ongoing US military campaign.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump reiterated his position, saying, “We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don’t have control. We have total control. We own it.”
The confrontation comes amid an escalating war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. US and Israeli forces have carried out extensive strikes against Iranian military targets and senior officials, while Iran has responded with missile attacks targeting US bases, Israel and facilities in US-allied Gulf states.
Iran has also targeted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting one of the world’s major trade and energy routes and raising concerns about the impact of the conflict on the global economy.
However, Trump has recently appeared less willing to further escalate the conflict, particularly as his political standing faces pressure ahead of the November midterm elections.
The US president has instead indicated that Washington could intensify efforts to blockade Iranian ports while maintaining what he described as a low-key approach to negotiations.
“We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money,” Trump told Axios on Sunday.
The ongoing standoff has left the future of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz uncertain, with any prolonged disruption potentially having significant consequences for global energy markets.
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