US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial traffic, rejecting Iranian claims of control following a series of intensive US military strikes in the region. In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Trump signaled a complete breakdown of recent diplomatic efforts with Iran, revealing that a tentative agreement had been shattered by an alleged Iranian military strike on a commercial vessel.
Trump Details Failed Negotiations and Iranian Aggression
President Trump described a near-miss in negotiations that he said took place on Saturday, claiming Iranian representatives had agreed to significant concessions, including the total cessation of nuclear and military posturing. "We had meetings with them. They agreed to a deal yesterday. A perfect deal for us. No nuclear, no this, no that, no nothing. They gave up everything, and then after that, they left the room and then within an hour they launched a drone at a ship," Trump said. The President characterized the Iranian leadership in harsh terms, stating, "They are very, very evil and sick people. It's one of those things."
US Military Response and Strait Status
Addressing the status of the vital maritime chokepoint, President Trump confirmed that the US had responded to the renewed Iranian aggression with significant military force. "It's open," the President said regarding the Strait of Hormuz. "We bombed the hell out of them last night," he added. His remarks come as the US Central Command dismissed Iranian authority over the Strait of Hormuz and affirmed that the critical chokepoint remains open despite the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's declaration of its closure.
CENTCOM Fact-Check and Iranian Counterclaim
Posting a "fact-check" on X, CENTCOM wrote, "CLAIM: The Iranian commander for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Navy recently said on state-owned media that no foreign vessels may pass through the Strait of Hormuz without being identified, tracked, and monitored by Iranian forces. FACT: Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. It remains an international waterway. U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to keep it that way." However, Iran doubled down, insisting that passage through the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), an official Iranian maritime body, stated on X that passage has been closed due to "recent illegal movements" of the US military and will be permitted only through a "transit permit" issued by PGSA. It added that requests will be reviewed "as soon as stability and calm are restored" in the region. PGSA stated, "We hereby inform all esteemed applicants. Due to the recent illegal movements of the United States military forces in the region, passage through the Strait of Hormuz is currently not possible. As soon as stability and calm are restored, all requests will be reviewed based on the schedule, and the necessary permits will be issued." The clarification comes shortly after the US Central Command claimed the Strait of Hormuz is "open to all vessels."
