'I think we will keep it': Trump says US has 'total control' over Strait of Hormuz

What Happened

United States President Donald Trump claimed that the United States Navy maintains total control over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the waterway has been mine-swept by US forces. Trump stated that the United States has established a naval blockade, which he described as a 'wall of steel,' and characterized the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as decimated. Shipping data from Kpler indicated that transit through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to six vessels on the day of the announcement, significantly below the 10-day average of approximately 11 ships and the pre-conflict norm of 130 to 140 vessels. Separately, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz claimed that the Iranian government is more concerned with the economic impact of United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's policies than with potential military strikes from the United States Department of Defense.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy supplies. The assertion of a United States naval blockade and the reported decline in shipping traffic highlight the risk of severe disruption to international oil and gas markets, as well as the potential for direct naval confrontation between United States and Iranian forces.

Watch For

Monitor daily shipping data from Kpler and other maritime tracking services for further fluctuations in transit volumes through the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, observe any official responses from the Iranian Foreign Ministry or the IRGC regarding the status of the waterway and the impact of United States economic sanctions.