Who claims to control the Strait of Hormuz?

Iranian officials, led by the head of the Basij paramilitary force, Hossein Taeb, claim the strait is under Iranian control, while U.S. President Donald Trump claims the U.S. has total control.

What did the June 2026 agreement call for?

The memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran called for the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important?

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for global oil and gas supplies, so instability in the region directly affects world energy markets and supply security.

What is the status of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran?

According to Iranian officials, negotiations to end the war have stalled with no progress, and Iran has said it will not hold direct talks with the U.S.

World

War of Words Over Hormuz: Iran Says It Controls the Strait

A.C. · Prije 15h | 4 min

The head of Iran's Basij paramilitary force said on Thursday that the strategic waterway is under Tehran's control, a day after the U.S. president said the opposite on Truth Social.

Summary

The head of Iran's Basij, Hossein Taeb, said on August 13, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iranian control.
A day earlier, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. has total control over the strait and spoke of a 'steel wall'.
Negotiations to end the war have stalled, and Iran says there will be no direct talks with the U.S.
The June 2026 agreement called for the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic is once again under threat.

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The head of Iran's Basij paramilitary force, Hossein Taeb, said on Thursday, August 13, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz is "under the control and administration of Iran," according to the semi-official Fars news agency. His remarks came just a day after US President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that Washington has "total control" over the strategic waterway.

Taeb claimed that the United States tried to undermine the Islamic Republic's popularity in the region by starting another war in the Strait of Hormuz but was again defeated despite assertions that Iran has neither an air force nor a navy. "Today you see that the Strait of Hormuz is under the administration and control of the Islamic Republic," Taeb said, adding that Iran is confidently continuing on its path.

The exchange of statements between the two sides reflects the widening gap in negotiations to end the war, which, according to Iranian authorities, have stalled. An unnamed Iranian official told Fars that there has been "no progress" in talks between the two countries.

Trump: 'Steel Wall' and Message of a Destroyed Iran

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday, August 12, 2026: "The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE'LL KEEP IT! Our naval blockade is called the 'STEEL WALL' by everyone, and Iran can't do anything about it." In the same post, the US president repeated his claim that Iran is "finished" and is no longer the "bully of the Middle East."

In a longer message, he stated that Iran "has no navy, no air force," that "the remaining soldiers are not being paid," and that "the Revolutionary Guard is decimated and on the run." He also mentioned 300 percent inflation in Iran and assessed that the country "only talks, but doesn't act."

On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Trump told reporters after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland aboard Air Force One: "We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz right now. They don't have control. We have total control. We own it."

June Agreement Envisioned the Liberation of the Strait

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2026 to end the war, which called for the complete liberation of the Strait of Hormuz. During the conflict, Iran blocked the waterway with threats and attacks on ships, in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, while the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian vessels and those trading with Iranian ports.

Due to the stalemate in negotiations, traffic through Hormuz is again at risk. Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday, according to Fars, that Tehran "will not hold direct talks with the US."

Strategic Importance of the Strait and Traffic Status

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most vital waterways, crucial for global energy supplies. Insecurity in the area directly impacts global oil and gas markets, and consequently the energy security of the European Union. Sources disagree on who currently controls the strait: Iranian officials claim it is under their administration, while the US side insists on complete American control.

Nearly half a year after the start of the war, traffic through the strategic strait has almost come to a halt. On Tuesday, only 14 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz, compared to about 120 daily before the war. The main reason is shipping companies' fear for the safety of crews and vessels. Last week, at least four vessels belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked by drones and missiles. The attacks further increase insurance costs and deter shipowners from transiting the strait.

Since the start of the war, 54 incidents have been reported in which vessels were damaged in the area of the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman. There have also been three total losses of ships and 13 cases where vessels narrowly escaped attack. "Unless you can ensure safe passage through the strait, you don't have total control," says Carl Schuster, a former US military intelligence officer.

On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Trump briefly spoke with reporters after arriving at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland aboard Air Force One, but details of that address were not included in the report.