Trump Claims US Has ‘Total Control’ of Strait of Hormuz; Iran Rejects Claim

As Iran takes a firm position that it will not participate in ceasefire talks, US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has gained complete control of the Strait of Hormuz.

“The US has gained total control of Hormuz. It will remain that way. Everyone calls it an iron wall. Iran has nothing left to do there,” Trump said.

Iran immediately rejected Trump’s claim. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and that there will be no change until the US accepts the proposals put forward by Iran.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command said 59 vessels were turned back in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday. Most of the vessels were attempting to travel to Iranian ports or leave Iran through the Strait of Hormuz. The Central Command also said that three vessels were destroyed.

Putin Announces New Sea Route, Says India Showing Interest

With the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Black Sea facing attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a new route for transporting goods to Asia. Putin said trading partners India and China had also expressed interest in the proposal.

Putin proposed the Northern Sea Route (NSR), which connects the Arctic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. His announcement comes as the US threatens India and China with heavy tariffs over their continued purchases of oil and other commodities from Russia.