Washington, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The White House has claimed that the United States now controls the Strait of Hormuz, saying American forces have cleared Iranian mines, protected nearly 1,500 commercial vessels and restricted Iran’s ability to export oil through the strategic waterway.
In a statement citing the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the White House said American forces were working to keep global energy supplies moving while preventing Iran from accessing revenue that Washington alleges could be used to threaten international commerce.
The administration presented the claims as evidence supporting President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that the US Navy has gained control of the strait. The statement did not include a response from the Iranian government.
According to the White House, US forces have cleared Iranian mines from international shipping lanes and provided protection to nearly 1,500 commercial vessels carrying around 750 million barrels of crude oil to international markets.
The administration also claimed that Iran had not exported oil from its shores since a US blockade resumed in July, while American forces had turned back 75 vessels allegedly attempting to breach the blockade.
Gulf oil exports have recovered to around two-thirds of their pre-operation levels and are continuing to increase, the statement said.
“The only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy,” Trump said on August 10, reiterating the claim later in August.
On Thursday, Trump said the strait remained open under US control and claimed that Iran was receiving nothing through the waterway.
The White House argued that US military operations and the blockade had reduced Iran’s ability to use the strategically important passage as leverage.
Former deputy national security adviser KT McFarland said Iran had lost what she described as its ability to use the strait to pressure the international community.
John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at West Point, also disputed Iranian claims that Tehran had closed the waterway, saying maritime traffic had not been effectively halted.
The White House said the blockade was part of a broader economic pressure campaign aimed at cutting Iran off from revenue sources. It cited Operation Economic Outcast, which Washington says is intended to isolate Iran economically and disrupt its remaining financial lifelines.
The administration said Trump would continue pressuring Iran until it could no longer threaten the international community, but did not specify the conditions under which the blockade would end.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is a critical route for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments from several Gulf countries. Its security is therefore of major importance to energy-importing nations, including India.
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