International News: Trump says US controls Strait of Hormuz, but experts say reality is more complicated

By Zoila Palma:  Nearly six months into the US-Iran war, the strategic Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of a growing dispute over control of one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States has “total control” of the waterway, while Iran says it will not fully reopen the strait until Washington meets its conditions.

The ongoing disruption has sharply reduced maritime traffic and contributed to rapidly declining global oil stockpiles, CNN reports.

Despite Trump’s claims, experts say the strait is not fully controlled by either the United States or Iran. Only a fraction of the vessels that normally pass through the waterway are currently making the journey, with 14 ships crossing on Tuesday compared with roughly 120 per day before the war.

The US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while merchant shipping companies remain concerned about attacks, mines and other threats that could endanger their vessels.

Experts say both countries retain significant leverage, but each faces limitations.

Iran has the advantage of geography because it borders the strait and can threaten shipping through mines, small boats and surveillance, while the United States has substantial military and economic power, including sanctions on Iranian oil and frozen Iranian assets.

However, US military forces in the region are stretched, and analysts say Washington’s ability to maintain pressure could become increasingly difficult if the conflict continues for an extended period.

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