The so-called Authority of the Strait of the Persian Gulf (ASPG) rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim on Wednesday night that Washington has “absolute control” over the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that the critical waterway remains closed.
“The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not reopen until all of Iran’s conditions are accepted,” the ASPG said in a post on X.
It added that repeated statements by US officials about lifting the Iranian blockade did not change the “reality” on the ground.
Trump reiterated his claim on Truth Social that the United States has full control of the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, he had said that “nobody else, only us” controls the waterway.
Trump keeps military option open
Speaking to Axios on Sunday, Trump said the US was being “discreet” and was “half-negotiating” with Iran while monitoring the deterioration of its economic situation.
The US President said he was keeping the option of further bombing on the table but preferred to increase the economic pressure created by sanctions.
On Monday, Trump said Iran could “cause trouble” but was “bankrupt” and had no money. He repeated his claim that the US has “absolute control” of the Strait of Hormuz in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.
Shipping through strait falls sharply
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global hydrocarbon trade, is considered one of the factors behind the recent escalation in the Middle East.
Iran closed the waterway two days after the US-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic on 28 February, with attacks on ships and threats contributing to the disruption.
According to data from commercial shipping monitoring service Kpler, only eight commercial vessels passed through the Strait on Tuesday, the lowest number since 5 August.
Seven of the vessels followed a route along the Iranian coast, as demanded by Tehran.
Before the war, an average of 130 to 140 commercial vessels passed through the Strait each day.
Also read: New attacks on shipping as Iran war talks hit fresh impasse
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