Trump Claims Authority Over Hormuz as US and Iran Firmly Stand Their Ground

President Donald Trump claimed that the US has “absolute control over the Hormuz Strait,” as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated amid stalled discussions regarding this crucial waterway.

“We own it,” Trump stated to reporters at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington late Tuesday. “And at some point, maybe they’ll act, and then they get blown away.”

His comments followed remarks from Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, who suggested to reporters in Islamabad that the two sides were “close to some sort of arrangement” regarding Hormuz, although he did not elaborate further.

This mounting rhetoric raises additional uncertainties about the possibility of an immediate agreement between the conflicting parties over the vital waterway, through which a large portion of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas has flowed since fighting intensified on February 28. Although a ceasefire was established in June, sporadic clashes continue, as Qatar and Pakistan strive to mediate a lasting resolution to the conflict.

According to Al Jazeera, negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the reopening of Hormuz to some maritime traffic have progressed, as reported by a spokesperson from the Qatari Foreign Ministry. The US is not directly involved in these talks.

Tehran officials have also suggested that an agreement with Oman regarding Hormuz may be imminent. Mohsen Rezaee, the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, noted that any accord with Oman pertaining to the strait’s control would be separate from its closure, as per a statement by state-run IRIB. However, the specific stipulations that Iran may impose on traffic through the waterway remain unclear.

Iran has communicated further conditions to Washington through intermediaries, including demands for the US to end hostilities and unfreeze Iranian assets, according to IRIB, citing Rezaee on Tuesday. These remarks came after a meeting with China’s ambassador to Iran, Cong Peiwu, in Tehran.

“We are definitely at a stalemate,” said Wendy Sherman, former US deputy secretary of state, in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “Unless the US is prepared to allow Iran and possibly Oman to implement voluntary tolls or provide significant relief from sanctions and unblocked assets, I don’t think we’ll achieve a sustainable opening.”

“The reality is, for the foreseeable future, if not indefinitely, Iran will control the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.

As traders remain skeptical about a potential agreement in the Middle East, crude oil prices continued to rise. Global benchmark Brent increased by 0.9% to $89.72 per barrel as of 7:11 a.m. in London on Wednesday, marking a sixth consecutive day of gains.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright mentioned in a social media post on Tuesday that the seven-day average for oil passing through Hormuz is approaching 9 million barrels per day, a figure that surpasses many trader estimates.

A US Navy helicopter fired two missiles at a Panama-flagged cargo vessel trying to navigate the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, as stated by Central Command in a social media post, indicating that the vessel was en route to an Iranian port in violation of an American blockade.

Despite such incidents, transit operations through the strait continue, maintaining a crucial oil supply route. Satellite images showed vessels conducting cargo transfers outside of Hormuz, indicating that some tankers are still navigating the waterway discreetly.

A total of 12 such transfers were observed along a water stretch exceeding 100 kilometers (62 miles) off the coasts of Oman and the United Arab Emirates on Monday, according to data from the European Union’s Sentinel 2 satellite. Additionally, tracking data from Kpler and Vortexa indicated that some ships have resumed their journeys after crossing Hormuz in recent days.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss matters with his Iranian counterpart, as reported by the Islamic Republic’s semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency.

On Monday, Trump stated that Tehran should compensate for casualties linked to the Islamic Republic’s actions and domestic protests. His remarks were a response to a series of demands presented by Iran, including reparations for US violations of a temporary peace agreement established in June.

A White House official indicated that Trump believes he is in a strong negotiating position and is not rushed to finalize a deal, but chose not to elaborate on the discussions. The US views Iran’s demands as shifting and noted Iran’s increasing economic pressures and internal conflicts, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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