Trump says that Strait of Hormuz will be kept under US control

Written by journalist Danylo Aleksandrov

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States now has full control of the critical Strait of Hormuz and intends to maintain that control, as the conflict with Iran continues.

On Wednesday in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the US had “total control” of the waterway and praised the ongoing American naval blockade, describing it as “A WALL OF STEEL”.

Iran disputes Washington’s claim and maintains that it controls significant parts of the strait. Tehran has also again threatened to introduce a toll system in response to the US military campaign.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime routes, carrying a substantial share of global energy shipments. Disruption to shipping here has already contributed to significant uncertainty in international trade and the wider global economy.

The current confrontation follows the war launched by the Trump administration along with Israel on 28 February. US and Israeli forces have carried out extensive strikes against Iranian military targets and leadership, while Iran has responded with missile attacks against US bases, Israel and other targets in Gulf countries allied with Washington.

Iran’s most significant countermeasure has focused on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, causing severe disruption to the route.

Trump has recently softened some of his earlier threats to escalate the conflict, amid growing political difficulties at home ahead of the November midterm elections. Instead, his administration has indicated that it could concentrate on a blockade of Iranian ports.

With neither side appearing ready to back down, the conflict remains at an impasse, leaving the future of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global trade uncertain.