Trump Claims Total Control of Strait of Hormuz Amid Deadlock

The United States and Iran are locked in a contradictory dispute over the control of the Strait of Hormuz following a war that began in March 2026. Donald Trump claims the U.S. Navy maintains total control of the waterway through a naval blockade he calls a wall of steel, asserting that the U.S. has cleared the area of mines and that the Iranian regime is economically crippled. Conversely, the Government of Iran and the Persian Gulf Strait Authority maintain the strait remains blocked and will not reopen until the U.S. accepts conditions including sanctions relief, the release of frozen assets, and war reparations.

Maritime traffic has plummeted from a pre-conflict average of 130 daily transits to as few as eight to 14 ships. This disruption has driven U.S. gasoline prices to a national average of $4.04 per gallon and increased global oil prices. To mitigate economic impact, the White House National Economic Council has increased domestic production and waived the Jones Act to facilitate oil shipments. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported that while total oil movement has dropped from 20 million to roughly 15 million barrels per day, alternative routes have partially offset the decline.

Diplomatic efforts led by the Government of Pakistan to extend a 60-day truce have stalled. A June interim peace deal collapsed after Trump declared it over on July 7, with both nations now accusing the other of violating agreements. Tensions recently escalated following a suspected Houthi attack in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that killed four crew members and a U.S. Navy strike that disabled a Panama-flagged cargo ship for violating the blockade of Iranian ports.