Strait of Hormuz effectively closed despite Trump's bluff, US report confirms

The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to normal shipping despite US President Donald Trump's claim that it is open to all maritime traffic except Iranian vessels, the Washington Post reports. 

Trump said on social media this week that the strait was open for "ALL Ship traffic," except Iran's, claiming that the United States was "from this point forward, 'THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT.'"

However, maritime tracking data showed only five vessels transited the strait on Wednesday, including a yacht, several small boats and a chemical tanker, the Post reported on Friday.

Thousands of ships have remained stranded in the Persian Gulf since the US-Israeli aggression against Iran began nearly five months ago, with only a limited number entering through the waterway during brief pauses in the war.

The latest developments come after the collapse of a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war following US violations of the document.

The terrorist US Centcom has conducted waves of military aggression against southern Iranian provinces in the past week, killing more than 40 Iranians, including civilians.

Iran has responded to the aggression by launching missiles and drones against US military assets across the region.

The US has reinstated its illegal naval blockade against Iranian shipping, which has been condemned by Tehran as an act of “maritime piracy”.

Meanwhile, Trump has threatened attacks on Iran's civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants. Terrorist US forces targeted several bridges in Hormozgan Province early on Friday, killing at least seven people in one of the strikes.

Under the blockade, US naval forces have reportedly warned ships heading to Iranian ports to turn back and disabled vessels that refused. One such case involved an empty Curacao-flagged tanker attempting to reach Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal.

On Tuesday, US forces broadcast a radio message to ships gathered near the waterway, saying, "U.S. forces are prepared to maintain freedom of navigation and safeguard lawful commerce in accordance with international law. The southern route of the strait remains open."

According to a recording reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, one sailor replied over the radio, "F— off."

Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed "until further notice" and at least until "the end of US interference in the region."

Responding to Trump's remarks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Washington's claim to the strategic waterway.

"POTUS is absolutely right. Whoever provides secure and safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz should be compensated for this service," Araghchi wrote on social media.

"Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER. 20% is of course too much. We will be fair," he added.

Iran to neutralize US regional interference, maintain Hormuz control: Army

Iran’s Army says the country will continue to counter US interference in the region and maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia also dismissed suggestions that US strikes on sites along Iran's southern coast could weaken Tehran's control over the strait.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is capable of exercising control over the Strait of Hormuz from any point of its territory," he said.

He stressed that Iran's control over the strategic waterway does not depend on specific coastlines or islands, adding, "Undoubtedly, we will resist until the end and will neutralize US interventions in the region."

The US aggression has disrupted the shipment of roughly 20 million barrels of crude oil and refined products a day.

The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday that there were "plenty of reasons why oil should have become cripplingly expensive" during the war.

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