President Trump says the US has total control over the Strait of Hormuz, calling the blockade a wall of steel.
ISTANBUL: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Washington maintains absolute authority over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that American forces will likely maintain their presence in the strategic waterway.
“The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we will keep it,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
He characterised the ongoing naval blockade as a “wall of steel.”
“There is nothing Iran can do about it.”
As of Wednesday, US forces have redirected 59 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and boarded 2 “to ensure full compliance with the blockade,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
According to the US president, Iran’s military capabilities have been neutralised.
The West Asia has remained tense since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in late February. Tehran and Washington have yet to reach a final agreement to end the confrontation, while the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt global energy supply chains.
The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June and launched negotiations towards a final agreement.
However, the talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic routes for global energy supplies and trade.
