President Donald Trump said the United States now controls 100 percent [1] of the Strait of Hormuz.
The move targets one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. By asserting control over the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, the U.S. aims to pressure the Iranian government and secure the flow of energy to global markets.
Trump said the U.S. has mine-swept the waterway and that it is now open for all commercial traffic [3]. As part of this strategy, the president reinstated a blockade on Iranian shipping. He also proposed a new financial requirement for the passage, stating, "We will charge a 20% fee [2] for every vessel that passes through Hormuz."
Trump said the fee is intended to generate revenue and ensure the security of the region. "We're taking over the strait," Trump said. "They've got nothing" [4].
Despite the assertion that the waterway is open, data suggests a significant decline in maritime activity. Only 33 vessels [1] crossed the strait in a four-day period. This is a sharp decrease from pre-war traffic levels, which averaged between 130 and 140 vessels per week [1].
There are conflicting reports regarding the current status of the waterway. While the president said the U.S. has full control, other reports indicate that the reopening of the strait is still being negotiated with Iran and Oman [5]. These negotiations reportedly depend on specific conditions, including the lifting of the U.S. blockade [5].
The president's statements were first made during a phone interview with Fox News on July 13, 2026 [6], and reported by news outlets on July 15, 2026 [6].
“"We're taking over the strait. They've got nothing."”
The assertion of total control over the Strait of Hormuz represents a significant escalation in U.S. maritime policy. By combining a blockade with a proposed 20% transit fee, the administration is treating the waterway as a regulated zone rather than an international strait. The disparity between the president's claims of openness and the actual vessel counts suggests that commercial shipping remains hesitant to enter the region despite the reported mine-sweeping efforts.
