Tehran, August 14, 2026: Iran has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States has taken control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, describing the assertion as false and insisting that the waterway remains under Iranian control. The dispute comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and continuing disruptions to commercial shipping through the vital maritime route.
Trump has claimed that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, while US officials have highlighted the country’s naval presence and blockade of Iranian ports. Iran’s military, however, has rejected the claim and maintained that vessels cannot safely pass through the strait without Iranian permission and supervision.
Iranian officials have repeatedly asserted that the strait remains under the management and control of the Islamic Republic. Iran’s Basij paramilitary chief Hossein Taeb also said that the strategic waterway was under Iranian control, directly contradicting Washington’s claims.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The latest confrontation over its control has raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping and the potential impact on international oil and gas supplies.
Shipping traffic through the waterway has remained significantly below its normal levels amid the escalating US-Iran confrontation. According to shipping data cited by Reuters, only a small number of commodity vessels transited the strait on Thursday, while most vessels that did pass through used routes on the Iranian side.
The latest dispute follows increased maritime tensions in the region, including attacks on two UAE-linked vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE has accused Iran of carrying out the attacks, while Tehran’s broader confrontation with Washington continues to create uncertainty for international shipping and global energy markets.
With Washington asserting naval dominance and Tehran maintaining that it controls passage through the waterway, the competing claims have further intensified the standoff over one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
