Trump denies Hormuz blockade as Iran reports new Strait attacks

U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial shipping, directly challenging Iranian assertions that the vital waterway is closed. In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump affirmed the strait's accessibility for legitimate passage.

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The Strait of Hormuz is open to all ships wishing to transit this international waterway lawfully.

This statement comes amid conflicting reports from Iranian media, which have reported new missile attacks within the Strait of Hormuz. State news agency IRNA, citing the governor of Qeshm Island, reported that "enemy" missiles struck military targets on the island, though no casualties were reported. Further reports from Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim mentioned explosions near the port city of Bandar Abbas and attacks on small boats belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in the strait.

The U.S. military's regional command, Centcom, also issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, confirming that the Strait of Hormuz remains an international waterway that Iran does not control. "The Strait of Hormuz is open to all ships wishing to transit this international waterway lawfully," the statement read.

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We hit them hard last night.

These developments follow a period of heightened tension. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and fired warning shots at a vessel allegedly deviating from its route. In response, the U.S. reportedly conducted airstrikes on approximately 140 Iranian military targets along the southern coast. Trump described these strikes as hitting Iran "hard." Iran, in turn, launched missiles and drones at locations in Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. A temporary de-escalation occurred after a framework agreement between the U.S. and Iran in June, but planned negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities have yet to yield results.

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They were about to give up everything, and then suddenly, two hours later, they hit a ship with a drone.