Trump Claims US Has Full Control Over Strait of Hormuz
The American president asserts that the US will 'maintain' control over the strategic waterway, while Iran disputes these claims and announces the introduction of a toll system.
The American president asserts that the US will 'maintain' control over the strategic waterway, while Iran disputes these claims and announces the introduction of a toll system.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, that the United States has total control over the Strait of Hormuz and intends to keep it. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for the flow of energy and other goods through the Middle East, and control over it has become a central point of contention between the US and Iran.
"The US has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we'll keep it! Our naval blockade is being called a 'wall of steel' by everyone, and Iran can't do anything about it," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, as reported by Russia's state news agency TASS.
In the same post, Trump went a step further in his criticism of Tehran. "They have no money - their country is 'destroyed.' All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and it's going to get worse! Iran is all talk, the bully of the Middle East is no more," Trump wrote, concluding his message with "Thank God!"
In the same post, Trump launched a scathing attack on Iran's military and its leadership. "They have no navy, no air force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the IRGC is decimated and on the run, and their 'leadership' is insecure," the US president added, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Trump repeated similar claims late Tuesday in front of reporters in Washington. "We have total control over the Strait of Hormuz right now. They don't have control. We have total control. We own it," Trump said, as reported by Channel News Asia.
Israeli officials have expressed high satisfaction with the continuation of the US naval blockade of Iran, assessing that it is having a dramatic impact on Iran's economy. According to the Jerusalem Post, two Israeli officials revealed that during a security cabinet meeting about a week ago, IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, told ministers: "The blockade of Iran is very effective. The economic crisis there is worsening."
One of the most significant effects of the blockade concerns Iran's ports and maritime trade routes. As Iran's economy heavily relies on these routes for the import and export of goods, raw materials, fuel, and other essential products, the blockade has caused sustained disruptions in port operations and supply chains. Experts estimate that Iran's economy could contract by as much as 5.6 percent this year, which would be the sharpest decline since 1988.
However, Iran claims it effectively controls much of the strait and intends to introduce a toll system in response to the war that Trump launched on February 28, 2026. Sources report conflicting claims from both sides about who actually holds control over this strategic waterway.
The war between the US and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has been ongoing for nearly six months. American and Israeli forces have bombed Iran's military and killed some of Iran's leadership, while Iran has retaliated with missile attacks on US bases in the region, Israel, and targets in Gulf states allied with the US.
A senior advisor to the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard stated that Iran could "prolong" the war with the US until Trump leaves office. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry suggested that an agreement between the two sides remains relevant despite their refusal to change positions.
In June 2026, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, on July 8, 2026, the US resumed major attacks on Iran, accusing it of violating the agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's most effective response so far has been targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively blocking the trade route and shaking the global economy. Given that the Strait of Hormuz serves as a key route for global energy transport, any disruption there directly impacts energy prices and market stability. The International Energy Agency warns that global oil reserves are rapidly depleting, and traffic through the vital waterway remains minimal.
As the conflict escalates, Oman is facing a new oil-related threat. Oman's Environment Authority has warned that an oil spill from a sanctioned tanker carrying Russian crude has reached beaches at Ras Madrakah in the southeast of the country. According to Reuters, the tanker Caroline Bezengi was carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil when it ran aground on June 30. The vessel is under sanctions from several countries as part of efforts to combat the so-called shadow fleet of tankers that Russia uses to circumvent sanctions and transport oil worldwide.
Oman's agency reported that a coastal stretch of up to 40 kilometers around Ras Madrakah has been affected, and the spill is expected to spread to the southern beaches of Masirah Island in the coming hours. The island is home to rich coastal ecosystems and serves as a nesting site for several species of sea turtles. Environmental agencies warn that the spill could turn into a disaster if it continues to spread.
Trump, facing November elections, has pulled back from threats to escalate the war in pursuit of a decisive victory, leaving the conflict at a standstill. The Republican president told Axios that the US is preparing to focus on blockading Iranian ports in a strategy he described as "low-keying."
"We're only half-negotiating with them. We're just watching Iran with its massive inflation and the fact that they have no money," Trump told Axios on Sunday.
Russian military blogger Boris Rozhin, author of the Telegram channel 'Colonel Cassad,' is skeptical of Trump's claims. "In yet another encyclical, Trump has once again defeated Iran on the internet, but has not come any closer to achieving any of his goals. The US elections are approaching, and the factor of the Middle East war that has reached a dead end will increasingly pressure Trump, pushing him toward new adventures with little chance of turning the strategic situation in his favor," Rozhin wrote on his Telegram channel.
