US President Donald Trump said the United States would maintain its presence in the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Washington has full control over the strategic waterway.
In a post on his Truth Social account on Wednesday, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz was “under the full control of the United States” and added, “I think we will maintain it.” Describing the naval blockade as a “steel wall,” Trump claimed that Iran had no force capable of resisting the situation.
Trump makes claim about Iran’s military capacity
Claiming that Iran’s military capacity had been neutralized, Trump alleged that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had suffered a heavy blow and that its members had fled.
Trump also asserted that Iran’s economy had collapsed, saying inflation in the country had reached 300 percent and that the situation was worsening. He accused the Iranian administration of talking too much but taking no action.
Dispute over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz
Tensions in the Middle East have continued since the war by the United States and Israel against Iran began at the end of February. No final agreement has yet been reached between Tehran and Washington to end the conflict.
While the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supply chains, navigation through the strait, one of the world’s most strategic routes for energy supplies and trade, remains among the main issues in the negotiations.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June to launch negotiations on a final agreement. However, the talks stalled over disagreements regarding security guarantees and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
