Trump Says US Has ‘Total Control’ of Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON, Aug 12: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States has “total” control over the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions with Iran remain high and uncertainty continues over the reopening of the vital waterway.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said the US Navy currently controls the strategic strait, through which a significant share of global oil and gas shipments passes.

“Iran is going fine, doing just absolutely fine. We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else, just us,” Trump said.

“Our Navy is unbelievable and things are going great for our country,” he added.

Trump also said he does not trust Iran, accusing Tehran of repeatedly misleading him.

“I do not trust Iran. I am the last person to trust Iran. They lied to me constantly,” he said.

Reiterating his claim of American dominance over the waterway, Trump said: “We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They do not have control, we have control, we own it.”

Trump said the United States was “in a very good position” and claimed Iran was no longer “the bully of the Middle East.”

“At some point they might do something and they get blown away, but right now we are in a very good position,” he said.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints and a major route for international energy shipments. Any prolonged disruption there could have significant consequences for global oil markets and regional trade.