Iran’s military leadership has asserted full operational control over the Strait of Hormuz, directly contradicting recent assertions by U.S. President Donald Trump that American forces maintain dominance over the vital maritime transit route. Speaking on Thursday, Hossein Taeb, the newly appointed head of the Basij paramilitary unit, stated that the waterway remains under Iranian management and secure under Tehran’s authority, dismissing claims of American control.

The rhetorical escalation follows the effective closure of the strait by Iran following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February 2026, which disrupted a critical conduit for a fifth of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas supplies. While Washington responded with a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports while pledging to protect non-Iranian commercial shipping, Iran’s joint military command reiterated that no vessel may transit the waterway without explicit clearance from Tehran.

Efforts to stabilize the region remain stalled following the collapse of a short-lived June ceasefire aimed at restoring regional navigation. Iranian officials, including senior military officer Rasoul Sanaei-Rad, emphasized that access to the strait will remain restricted until the U.S. abides by the terms of the initial agreement, warning that any future military confrontation will draw an even stronger response.

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