Trump says U.S. controls Strait of Hormuz, countering Iran blockade

President Donald Trump asserted on Monday that U.S. forces control the Strait of Hormuz, diminishing the impact of Iran's maritime blockade. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated the strategic passage for international hydrocarbon trade is clear thanks to Washington's military deployment.

"It is already open. Look, the only one controlling the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy," Trump declared when asked about tensions in the waterway. He added that U.S. naval units have completely removed explosives placed by the Islamic Republic.

Trump's remarks follow Iran's dissemination of conditions for normalizing ship traffic, conveyed through indirect talks mediated by Oman. These demands include an end to the naval blockade against Iran, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and compensation for damages from the conflict that began on February 28.

Responding to Iran's proposals on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated Washington would not yield to Tehran's economic demands. Instead, he indicated that the U.S. would seek financial reparations from the Iranian regime for past "abuses," including compensation for victims of state repression during domestic protests.

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It is already open. Look, the only one controlling the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy.