Iran Calls Trump Hormuz Control Claims 'Lies'
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- Iran's military rejected Trump's claims of U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz as "lies and fabrications" on August 13, 2026, with Khatam-al Anbiya central command spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari saying the assertion that ships are passing "normally" was false.
- Trump had written on Truth Social the previous day that the U.S. had "total control" of the waterway — the specific claim that triggered Iran's sharp public rebuttal.
- Iran has controlled the Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East war erupted on February 28, 2026, requiring vessels to obtain permission and pay transit fees before using the passage.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global energy conduit, and Iran's operational transit-fee regime directly contradicts Trump's assertion of unimpeded U.S. maritime dominance.
Why it matters: Iran's outright denial — backed by its operating transit-fee system since February 28 — exposes a credibility gap between the two sides' public postures. For shipping companies and oil markets, the practical reality is that Iran still gates access to one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, regardless of which government's rhetoric you believe.
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