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

President Donald Trump has repeatedly highlighted Iranian threats against his life in recent days, framing the danger as both a badge of honor and a routine reality of his second term. The comments come amid fresh disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, where Trump asserted on his social media platform that the United States holds total control and might retain it, prompting immediate pushback from Tehran.

Iranian officials countered Thursday that the vital waterway remains under their management. Hossein Taeb, head of the Basij paramilitary force, told state-linked media that the Islamic Republic continues to operate in complete security despite U.S. efforts to disrupt regional influence. The exchange follows months of conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, a temporary ceasefire that collapsed, and renewed American naval actions targeting Iranian capabilities in the south.

Reports indicate Trump has grown fixated on assassination risks tied to the conflict. During a recent trip to Turkey, he reportedly switched from Air Force One to a smaller plane via a catering truck after intelligence suggested an Iranian missile threat. Anti-aircraft and anti-drone systems now protect his properties in New Jersey and Florida, measures not in place during his first term. Secret Service officials have noted a 40 percent rise in threat cases this year, reaching roughly 10,000, the highest volume on record.

In both public remarks and private conversations, Trump has raised the prospect of an Iranian strike with a mix of resignation and apparent satisfaction, according to multiple accounts. The tone has drawn notice because it coincides with Iran's demands for $300 billion in reparations and transit fees before reopening the strait, conditions the administration has dismissed outright. More than 30 nations, including several European allies, separately condemned Iran's use of executions against protesters, calling the practice an attempt to silence dissent.

The current standoff traces back to the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, ordered by Trump during his first term. Tehran has maintained a long-standing grievance over that strike, which the current round of hostilities has revived. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Washington is miscalculating the balance of power in the Gulf, while U.S. statements continue to emphasize freedom of navigation for non-Iranian shipping.

Critics of the administration argue that Trump's public emphasis on personal threats risks personalizing a broader conflict with significant humanitarian and economic stakes. Shipping traffic through the strait has already dropped sharply, and earlier agreements on de-escalation have unraveled amid mutual accusations of violations. Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have continued limited attacks on vessels they claim violate interim understandings, drawing further U.S. responses.

The combination of heightened personal security around the president and competing assertions of control over a chokepoint for global energy supplies underscores the fragile state of diplomacy six months into renewed hostilities. Both sides show little sign of yielding ground on either the security threats or the maritime dispute.