Trump Claims Total US Control of Strait of Hormuz, Iran Counters

President Donald Trump asserted this week that the United States holds total control over the Strait of Hormuz and may retain that position, prompting Iranian officials to counter that the vital waterway remains under their management. The exchange comes amid an ongoing conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February and has produced repeated cycles of attacks, ceasefires and renewed fighting.

Trump made the statement on his Truth Social platform, following weeks of naval operations aimed at protecting shipping lanes after Iran shut the strait earlier in the war. Iranian authorities responded through state media and military figures, including the head of the Basij paramilitary unit, who described the waterway as operating securely under Iranian direction despite U.S. efforts to disrupt regional influence. Iran has also floated demands that include substantial reparations and transit fees before any full reopening, positions that U.S. officials have shown no sign of accepting.

The rhetoric occurs against a backdrop of elevated personal security concerns for Trump. Reports indicate that anti-aircraft and anti-drone systems have been installed at his golf properties in New Jersey and Florida, a step not taken during his first term. Intelligence assessments led to an unusual maneuver during a recent trip to Turkey, in which Trump transferred from Air Force One to a smaller aircraft via a catering truck after warnings of a potential Iranian missile strike. The Secret Service has reported a sharp rise in threat cases overall, with volume up 40 percent from the previous year and the highest level on record.

Trump has spoken publicly and privately about the possibility of Iranian assassination attempts, at times framing the risk in ways that blend warnings with a measure of personal emphasis. Senior officials have noted that the comments reflect the current intensity of the conflict six months in, even as the administration maintains that U.S. forces retain operational advantages in the Gulf. Iranian leaders have not directly confirmed specific plots but have maintained a stance of defiance toward U.S. policy.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments under normal conditions. Its closure and the subsequent U.S. naval blockade have contributed to reduced traffic and higher energy prices, effects felt across multiple continents. An interim agreement in June called for a permanent ceasefire and restored navigation, yet that arrangement collapsed after limited Iranian attacks on vessels resumed, leading to fresh U.S. strikes on Iranian southern provinces. More than 30 countries, including several European nations, have separately condemned Iran’s use of executions against protesters, describing the practice as an effort to suppress dissent.

Analysts tracking the conflict note that both sides continue to test the limits of the other’s resolve through public statements and limited military actions. The U.S. emphasis on freedom of navigation has been paired with efforts to degrade Iran’s capacity to target shipping, while Iranian messaging stresses continued control despite material losses. How these competing assertions translate into sustained policy remains the central question for governments and markets monitoring developments in the region.