US President Donald Trump said the United States had established total control over the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that no vessel could enter or leave the strategic waterway without authorization from the US Navy.
Trump said the passage would remain closed until Iran agreed to a deal. He did not provide evidence demonstrating that Washington exercised complete control over the maritime route.
The president also said he had ordered US forces to destroy any vessels involved in laying mines in the strait. American minesweepers were clearing the area and would operate at three times their usual intensity, he added.
The declaration followed renewed confrontation over navigation through the strait. Iranian forces had announced that they were restoring strict control over the passage after briefly opening it during a ceasefire period.
Iran said it would prevent vessels from crossing until the United States lifted its blockade of Iranian ports and restored freedom of movement for ships entering the country.
The Strait of Hormuz is a central route for international energy shipments and has become one of the principal pressure points in the conflict between Washington and Tehran. Restrictions on navigation have disrupted maritime traffic and heightened concerns over global oil and gas supplies.
Trump's statement raises further questions about how access to the waterway will be managed and whether the competing claims of control could trigger renewed military incidents while negotiations remain unresolved.
