Trump hails 'wall of steel' blockade, says US will keep control of Strait of Hormuz
Trump described the US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz as a 'wall of steel' and said Washington will maintain control of the vital waterway. Iran maintains it effectively controls much of the strait and intends to impose a toll system in response to the war Trump launched on 28 February.
President Trump described the US naval assets deployed around the Strait of Hormuz as a "wall of steel" and said Washington would continue to hold control of the strategic waterway. The remarks came as tensions over the strait have escalated for weeks, with both sides claiming effective authority over shipping lanes.
Iran, however, maintains a starkly different account, saying it effectively controls much of the waterway and intends to impose a toll system on vessels transiting the strait in response to the war Trump launched on 28 February. The competing claims have deepened uncertainty over who exercises practical control of the passage.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most critical shipping corridors, carrying a significant share of global oil exports. Analysts warn that a prolonged standoff could fuel renewed volatility in energy markets, with shipping companies already rerouting some traffic to avoid the area entirely.
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