Iran rejects Trump claims of US control over Strait of Hormuz

Iran dismissed assertions by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, 13 August, that the United States has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that the strategic maritime chokepoint remains blocked. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) stated that the waterway will not reopen until Tehran’s specific geopolitical conditions are met. Conflicting Claims Over Maritime Access The escalation follows a post by President Trump on Truth Social in which he claimed the US Navy has established a "wall of steel" in the region. "The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we will keep it," Trump wrote, adding that Iran’s military infrastructure has been degraded. The PGSA countered these claims on X, formerly Twitter, stating that "repeated posts by US officials that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer blocked do not change the reality." Tehran Lists Demands for Reopening Mohsen Rezaei, the newly appointed head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), clarified the specific requirements for restoring traffic through the corridor. According to Rezaei, the Strait will remain closed until the US ends its military blockade, releases frozen Iranian assets, and secures a region-wide ceasefire covering both Gaza and Lebanon. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy, with approximately 20 per cent of the world's petroleum trade passing through the passage. While Washington has deployed significant naval assets to ensure…