Trump Claims US Has ‘Total Control’ of Hormuz as Ship Traffic Falls to One-week Low

U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that the United States possesses "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint. This claim comes as shipping traffic through the waterway has plummeted to its lowest point in a week amidst the ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump expressed confidence in maintaining this control, describing the U.S. naval presence as a "wall of steel."

Iran, however, has refuted Trump's assertion, maintaining that the strait remains blocked and will not reopen until its conditions are met. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority stated that claims of the strait being unblocked do not alter the reality on the ground.

The dispute coincides with a dramatic collapse in commercial shipping. Data from Kpler shows only eight vessels transited the strait on Tuesday, a stark contrast to the approximately 130 ships that passed through daily before the conflict began on February 28. This disruption has intensified concerns regarding global oil supplies and energy prices.

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The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we will keep it!

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has revised its 2026 oil demand forecast downward, citing the prolonged closure of the strait's impact on consumption. Brent crude traded around $89.08 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $83.53 early Wednesday. The IEA noted that while global oil supplies increased in July, they remain significantly below the previous year's levels, with renewed hostilities contributing to supply disruptions.

Furthermore, the crisis has extended beyond the Strait of Hormuz. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have intensified attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, raising fears of further disruptions along another vital trade route. At least six people were reportedly killed aboard a cargo vessel off Yemen in a Houthi attack, marking the first known fatalities from such incidents during the current escalation. The U.S. has also increased its enforcement of blockades on Iranian ports.

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Claims and repeated posts by U.S. officials that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer blocked do not change the reality.