US President Donald Trump has declared that the United States, not Iran, has control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes. "We completely control the Strait, just so you understand," Trump said during a broadcast on CNBC.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier said the strait remained open to commercial shipping. Trump added that Washington would continue its naval blockade of the Islamic Republic until a final peace agreement is signed.
Following these statements, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced that Iran has blocked the strait until the US naval blockade is fully lifted. The IRGC called on ship owners to follow only Iran's instructions, while calling Trump's statements about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz "unreliable."
