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US will keep Strait of Hormuz control — Trump

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • President Donald Trump asserted that the United States maintains "total control" over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
  • He described the U.S. naval blockade as a "WALL OF STEEL," stating Iran cannot counter it.
  • This claim comes amid a nearly six-month war with Iran, where the U.S. and its allies have heavily bombed Iranian military targets, while Iran has retaliated by targeting shipping in the strait.

President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that the United States possesses "total control" over the strategic Strait of Hormuz and intends to maintain it. He characterized the U.S. naval blockade in the region as a "WALL OF STEEL," asserting that Iran is powerless against it.

The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it.

— Donald TrumpPosted on his Truth Social platform regarding U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has consistently claimed U.S. dominance over the vital waterway, which is crucial for global energy and commodity shipments. However, Iran maintains it exercises significant control over much of the strait and plans to implement a toll system in response to the U.S. war initiated by Trump on February 28. This conflict has seen extensive bombing of Iranian military assets and leadership by U.S. and Israeli forces, with Iran responding through missile attacks on regional U.S. bases and allied countries.

The conflict has led to Iran targeting shipping in Hormuz, disrupting global trade and rattling the world economy. Facing declining domestic popularity ahead of the November midterm elections, Trump has reportedly scaled back threats of escalating the war, opting instead for a strategy of "low-keying" by focusing on blockading Iranian ports. He suggested to Axios that the U.S. is only "semi-negotiating" with Iran, closely monitoring the country's severe inflation and financial difficulties.

We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don’t have control. We have total control. We own it.

— Donald TrumpTold reporters on Tuesday about U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump's statements on controlling the Strait of Hormuz come as the war enters its sixth month, characterized by a standoff rather than a decisive victory for either side. The U.S. military's operations in the conflict have also been reported to have resulted in civilian casualties.

We are only semi-negotiating with them. We are just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money.

— Donald TrumpTold Axios on Sunday about the U.S. strategy regarding Iran.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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