Trump Claims US Control Over Hormuz. Why He Might Be Right This Time
President Donald Trump has claimed US control over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that American naval forces have secured the waterway and removed Iranian-planted mines. While Iran disputes this, maritime data suggests that an increasing number of vessels are bypassing Iranian-controlled routes in favor of US-protected channels.
Why it matters
The shift in control over this critical energy chokepoint has major implications for global oil prices and the ongoing geopolitical conflict between the US and Iran.
US President Donald Trump has posted a map showing the Strait of Hormuz as a new American territory, claiming sovereignty over the critical chokepoint under Iran's control since the start of the war. The American leader has also claimed that all water mines -- planted by Iran in the waterway -- have been removed, reducing maritime risks. "There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect," Trump wrote on his Truth Social network."The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated."Iran's Losing Grip On HormuzThis is not the first time Trump has claimed the upper hand in control of the crucial energy passage in the six-month-old Iran war, but this might be the first time when he's closer to the truth.
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