Live Updates: Trump says U.S. has "total control" over Strait of Hormuz and might "keep it

Live Updates: Trump says U.S. Has “total control” over Strait of Hormuz and might “keep it”

President Donald Trump’s declaration on Truth Social that the United States now holds “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed a faltering maritime corridor to the brink of shutdown, forcing oil markets, regional allies and diplomatic mediators to scramble for answers. The claim arrives as vessel traffic fell to a one‑week low of eight ships, a level unseen since the conflict erupted on February 28, and comes amid a series of military appointments, a massive oil spill off Oman and a secretive plane swap that echoes a 2000 Clinton‑era security maneuver.

Trump’s post read, “The U.S.A. Has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it.” The statement was instantly disputed by Tehran, which insisted its forces remain capable of defending national waters. The rhetoric has practical consequences: shipping firms are rerouting around the waterway, while the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that the ongoing closure could shave a fifth of global oil supplies from the market.

Iran’s leadership has responded with a reshuffle of its security hierarchy. The appointment of Hossein Taeb as commander of the Basij militia, a paramilitary force that has previously staffed tens of thousands of checkpoints, signals an effort to tighten internal control. At the same time, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, a veteran of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and former interior minister, has taken command of the IRGC itself, reinforcing the organization that still commands “more than 75 % of Iran’s missile and drone capability,” according to an IRNA statement.

Meanwhile, the United Nations’ shipping body reported that oil from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi continues to drift toward Oman’s mainland, creating a slick of almost 155 square miles. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said the vessel was en route from Russia to Asia with roughly 800 000 barrels of oil when it ran aground on June 30. Salvage efforts are hampered by seasonal monsoons, delaying cleanup and adding environmental pressure to an already volatile situation.

Regional powers are also repositioning. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced ambitions to expand the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement—a security pact signed with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan—into a broader regional umbrella, hinting at future Egyptian participation. Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, arrived in Tehran for talks that the Pakistani foreign ministry described as “discussions on bilateral relations, security and regional stability.” Pakistan’s defense minister later told Bloomberg that “the signals … are that we are close to some sort of an arrangement” between the United States and Iran.

Economic fallout is already evident. Brent crude rose marginally to $89.08 per barrel, while U.S. Benchmark crude edged to $83.53, prompting U.S. Gasoline prices to tick up two cents to a national average of $4.04 per gallon. The IEA, in its latest forecast, trimmed worldwide oil‑demand growth by 1.6 million barrels per day, citing the disruption of Hormuz traffic and lingering price pressures.

"The renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran suggest that a long‑term reduction in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is now the most likely scenario."

Ben May, director of global macro research at Oxford Economics, via CBS News

Beyond the Gulf, a separate flashpoint emerged when Houthi rebels in Yemen struck a vessel in the Bab el‑Mandeb strait, killing six crew members. The attack, the first fatal incident in the Red Sea since the latest surge of fighting, raises the specter of a new front that could further choke regional oil routes.

The United States has responded with forceful enforcement of its blockade. U.S. Central Command confirmed that an MH‑60 helicopter launched two Hellfire missiles at the Panama‑flagged cargo ship Vela Nova after it ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach the blockade of Iranian ports. CENTCOM reported that three non‑compliant vessels have been disabled, two boarded, and 55 commercial ships redirected.

Timeline of Key Events

• February 28 – War between the United States and Iran begins; pre‑war traffic averaged about 130 ships per day.
• June 30 – Tanker Caroline Bezengi grounds off Oman, beginning the oil spill that now covers nearly 155 sq mi.
• Early July – Houthi attack in the Bab el‑Mandeb kills six sailors.
• Mid‑July – Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.
• Late July – Iranian appointments of Hossein Taeb and Ahmad Vahidi announced.
• Early August – Trump posts claim of “total control” over Hormuz; vessel transits drop to eight.
• August 5 – Lowest daily ship count recorded since the conflict intensified.

What to Watch Next

• Potential U.S. Demand for Iranian compensation as the blockade persists.
• Negotiations mediated by Pakistan and Turkey aimed at reopening the strait, possibly involving the newly‑agreed Iranian‑Omani transit route.
• IEA updates on global oil supply and demand as the Hormuz closure drags into September.
• Further U.S. Military actions against vessels that attempt to bypass the blockade, which could trigger diplomatic protests.
• Investigations into the environmental impact of the Oman oil spill and its effect on regional fisheries.

Historical context adds an unexpected layer. Last month Trump’s departure from Turkey involved a clandestine aircraft swap that mirrors a 2000 operation used by President Bill Clinton to evade an alleged al‑Qaeda sniper threat in Islamabad. According to the Hindustan Times report, Clinton’s team used a decoy C‑20 Gulfstream to create the illusion of his arrival, while the president traveled on an unmarked jet. Trump allegedly employed the same tactic, boarding the former Air Force One in Ankara before being ferried in an airport catering truck to a smaller C‑32A. White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the maneuver as a necessary response to “many enemies of America.” The parallel underscores how presidential security concerns continue to shape diplomatic optics, even as the Hormuz crisis unfolds.

All eyes remain on Washington’s next move. If Trump’s promise to “keep” control of the strait translates into a prolonged naval presence, the maritime chokepoint could stay effectively closed for months. Such an outcome would deepen the IEA’s warning of a 4.3 million‑barrel‑per‑day supply shortfall this year and keep oil prices volatile. Conversely, a breakthrough in the nascent Iran‑Oman transit agreement or renewed Pakistani mediation could ease the bottleneck, offering a tentative lifeline to global markets.