President Donald Trump said the United States has total control of the Strait of Hormuz during a statement from the Oval Office on April 23, 2026 [1].
The assertion comes as tensions escalate in the Persian Gulf, a critical artery for global energy shipments. By projecting naval dominance, the administration seeks to deter further maritime aggression and force a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.
The comments followed reports that Iran seized two container ships [2]. Trump said the U.S. would use lethal force to maintain the openness of the waterway. "We will shoot and kill any boat that tries to lay mines in the Strait," Trump said [3].
Such a move to mine the strait would have severe economic implications. Reports indicate that clearing mines from the waterway could take six months [4], a delay that would likely disrupt global oil markets and increase shipping costs.
Despite the military warnings, the president suggested that Tehran is open to negotiations. "Iran wants to make a deal to end the war," Trump said [5].
The president's rhetoric aims to balance immediate military deterrence with a path toward a negotiated settlement. The U.S. continues to monitor the region as it seeks to prevent the seizure of further commercial vessels and ensure the free flow of trade through the strait [2].
“We have total control of the Strait of Hormuz.”
The administration is employing a 'maximum pressure' strategy by combining explicit military threats with an invitation for diplomacy. By claiming total control of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. is attempting to neutralize Iran's primary geopolitical lever — the ability to disrupt global oil supplies — while signaling that the cost of further escalations will be immediate kinetic retaliation.
