Trump Escalates Iran Rhetoric, Claims US Has ‘Total Control’ Over Strait Of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has intensified his confrontation with Iran, warning that Tehran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons while making a sweeping claim that Washington currently controls the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump said the US would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and warned that failure to do so could have serious consequences.

He also suggested that Washington was not under pressure to reach an agreement with Tehran, despite claiming that Iran was eager to negotiate.

Trump claims US control over Strait of Hormuz

Trump described the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping route, as effectively being under American control. Earlier, while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, he said the US had “total control” of the area surrounding the waterway in the context of the ongoing blockade and confrontation with Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint in the tensions between Washington and Tehran because a significant share of global energy supplies passes through the narrow maritime route.

Trump had also promoted the claim on Truth Social by sharing an AI-generated image depicting the waterway as “NEW U.S. TERRITORY”.

Trump said Iran was interested in reaching an agreement but had yet to accept terms that Washington considered satisfactory. He indicated that the US would wait before deciding whether negotiations were worthwhile.

Iran, however, rejected Trump’s characterization of the Strait of Hormuz. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the US President’s understanding of the waterway’s status would eventually be corrected.

The exchange highlights the continuing escalation between the two countries, with the nuclear issue, maritime access and control of a vital energy route emerging as key points of contention.