U.S. and Iran Clash Over Control of Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran are engaged in a direct and public dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, with each side asserting authority over the critical waterway while commercial shipping remains severely disrupted. The conflicting claims highlight a deepening stalemate in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

The dispute escalated on Wednesday when U.S. President Donald Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that the United States has "total control" of the Strait of Hormuz. He described the U.S. naval blockade as a "WALL OF STEEL" and asserted that Iran lacks the military capability to challenge it. Trump stated, "The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!" He made similar claims to reporters at Joint Base Andrews late Tuesday, saying, "We own it."

Iranian officials swiftly rejected these assertions. On Thursday, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the spokesperson for Iran's central military command, called Trump's claims "lies and fabrications." He stated in a video broadcast by Iranian state television that the strait is under the "complete management and control of the Islamic Republic of Iran" and that no commercial ship or...