Trump claims 'total control' of Strait of Hormuz — SkimNews
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- Trump posted on Truth Social that the US has "total control over the Strait of Hormuz," described the naval blockade as "A WALL OF STEEL," and claimed Iran's military capabilities have been "severely weakened," closing the post with "Praise be to Allah!"
- Trump dismissed Iran as "all talk and no action," citing "300% INFLATION" and "FAKE NEWS" as Iran's only remaining tools, and asserted "there is nothing Iran can do about it" regarding the blockade.
- Iran has sought compensation linked to wartime damage and sanctions-related economic losses in indirect talks with Washington — a demand Trump has publicly rejected, according to the article.
- Pakistan said Monday the US and Iran appeared to be moving closer to an arrangement to reduce tensions around the strait, though officials cautioned no formal agreement has been announced and major differences remain over sanctions and security guarantees.
- Analysts quoted in the article warned Trump's maximalist language could complicate ongoing diplomacy by hardening positions in Tehran and increasing domestic political pressure on Iranian leaders.
- The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil trade passes, has seen heightened naval patrols and rerouting considerations by shipping companies, with commercial traffic continuing under heavy security monitoring.
Why it matters: Trump's escalation of rhetoric — claiming total control while deriding Iran's military — risks sabotaging the very diplomatic track that Pakistan says is gaining traction, since Tehran's demands for wartime compensation already clash with Trump's public refusal to consider them. The roughly 20% of global oil flows passing through Hormuz means any diplomatic collapse would hit shipping insurance rates and energy markets within days, not weeks.
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