Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that the United States has “total control” over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with Iran remain high and efforts to revive a stalled peace arrangement show little sign of progress.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the US would maintain its grip over the crucial waterway, describing the American naval blockade as a “WALL OF STEEL” and warning that Iran was in no position to challenge it.
“The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!” Trump wrote.
Trump also claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely weakened, saying the country had “no Navy” and “no Air Force” and alleging that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had been “decimated and fleeing.” He further accused Tehran of suffering from severe economic problems and described Iran as “all talk and no action.”
Trump’s remarks come amid a prolonged confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea and has become a major flashpoint in the US-Iran conflict.
What is happening at the Strait of Hormuz?
The situation on the ground is more complicated than Trump’s “total control” assertion suggests.
Iran has for months restricted shipping through the Strait, while Washington has separately enforced a blockade of Iranian ports. The US military has previously intercepted and redirected vessels suspected of attempting to reach Iranian ports, including operations in the Arabian Sea and around the wider Gulf region.
The US has also carried out operations aimed at protecting commercial shipping and reopening maritime routes. In May, US Central Command said American forces had destroyed Iranian small boats and intercepted missiles and drones during an operation intended to facilitate shipping through the Strait.
However, Iran continues to reject Washington’s characterization of the situation. Tehran has said the Strait will remain closed until the US meets its demands, including ending the blockade and fulfilling commitments linked to the earlier interim agreement.
Iran-US talks remain stuck
Trump’s latest warning comes as diplomatic efforts to revive an agreement between Washington and Tehran have stalled.
According to Reuters, a senior Iranian official said on Wednesday that there had been no progress toward reviving the interim peace arrangement. Tehran has accused Washington of failing to honour commitments, while the US has pressed Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The impasse has been accompanied by renewed attacks on commercial shipping.
On Tuesday, US forces attacked a vessel in the Gulf of Oman that Washington said was violating its blockade. At the same time, an Iran-aligned Houthi attack on a cargo vessel near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait reportedly killed four crew members, according to Reuters.
The incidents have added to concerns that the maritime confrontation could spread beyond Hormuz and threaten other critical shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Before the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption moved through the waterway, making any sustained disruption a major concern for energy markets.
The International Maritime Organisation has also been monitoring the deteriorating maritime security situation in the region. As of August 4, the UN shipping agency had recorded 64 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East region.
Recent attacks on vessels have already raised the risks for commercial shipping. In July, the UAE said Iranian cruise missiles struck two oil tankers transiting the Strait, killing an Indian crew member and injuring eight others.