Iran Rejects Trump’s Claims on Hormuz as Strait Traffic Hits Near 3-Month Lows Amid Escalating Tensions

Iranian authorities have vehemently disputed U.S. President Donald Trump's assertions of "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining that the vital waterway remains blocked and will only reopen under Iran's specified conditions.

On Wednesday, Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), directly contradicting Trump's repeated claims. The authority declared, "Claims and repeated posts by U.S. officials that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer blocked do not change the reality: the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not be reopened until Iran's conditions are accepted."

This declaration follows Trump's Truth Social post earlier, where he stated, "The U.S.A. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT!"

Ali Saeedi | Getty Images

Amid these conflicting claims, tangible evidence from trade intelligence firm Kpler indicates a significant slowdown in maritime activity. Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to near a three-month low. Data reveals vessel transits averaged around 13 per day on Tuesday, marking one of the lowest levels since May 12. This encompasses all types of vessels, from cargo ships to oil tankers, and represents a staggering 90% decrease from the daily average of 130 ships that navigated Hormuz prior to the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28.

Both Washington and Tehran have hardened their negotiating stances, with each side now demanding "reparations" from the other, alongside other conditions for de-escalation. Iran's Supreme National Security Council laid out extensive demands for reopening the Strait, including an end to the U.S. naval blockade, comprehensive sanctions relief, the withdrawal of American troops, and substantial war reparations.

'Confusion and bewilderment'

These developments unfold as Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a top advisor to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), delivered a striking interview to PBS on Tuesday. Naqdi asserted, "victory is on our side" and critically assessed the U.S. military, stating, "we have also seen how the American military is weaker than what we perceived."

Naqdi highlighted what he described as Washington's shifting objectives throughout the conflict, including initial aims to invade Kharg Island and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We saw confusion and bewilderment in America. It became a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new objective... They mobilized their battleships. Everything they tried, we can show how we were victorious," he explained.

When questioned about the potential strategy of prolonging the conflict until Trump's departure from office, Naqdi clarified that Iran's primary goal is to "attain deterrence." He indicated that one method to achieve this is to extend the conflict and inflict attrition, thereby ensuring that any future aggression against Iran would come at a significant cost.