President Donald Trump has reiterated that the United States maintains "total control" over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, even as Iranian commandos seized two container ships and the Pentagon reportedly briefed that clearing mines from the waterway could take up to six months. Trump's assertion, made on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with both the US and Iran imposing competing blockades that have kept global oil prices hovering around $100 per barrel.
Iranian Seizures and US Response
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released footage on Thursday appearing to show naval forces boarding a container ship. The IRGC claimed that the Greek-owned Epaminondas and the Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca had endangered maritime security by operating without necessary permits and tampering with navigation systems, suggesting their location transponders were turned off. Reports indicate these vessels were part of a larger convoy trying to exit the strait after being trapped in the Gulf during the ongoing conflict.
In a parallel operation, US special forces boarded a stateless oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, which the Pentagon said was carrying Iranian crude oil. The US also released footage of its forces descending from helicopters onto the deck of the M/T Majestic X, highlighting a growing propaganda war between the two nations.
Mine Clearance Challenges
The dual blockades have been complicated by the presence of sea mines in the strait. The Pentagon warned Congress that clearing all suspected mines could take six months, according to a Washington Post report. Approximately 20 mines are thought to have been placed, some by small boats and others remotely, making them harder to locate. A Pentagon spokesperson called the report "inaccurate" but did not provide specific objections. Trump, however, stated that US minesweepers are working at a "tripled up level" and ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill" any boat laying mines.
Global Energy Security Threat
Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, described the situation as "the biggest energy security threat in history" in a CNBC interview. The strait, a narrow channel between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, handles about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied fossil gas. Its closure strains the Iranian economy but also risks higher petrol prices and inflation ahead of US midterm elections, posing a political threat to Trump.
Iranian Leadership and Peace Talks
Iran has refused to attend peace talks in Pakistan, a snub Trump attributed to infighting between "hardliners" and "moderates" in Tehran. Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father Ali after his death in a US-Israeli attack, appears less powerful. Reports from the New York Times indicate Khamenei is severely wounded but mentally sharp, with burns and awaiting surgery. The IRGC seems to exert greater influence in a collective leadership, making it more hawkish overall.
Trump agreed to an indefinite extension of a Pakistani-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday, but the suspension of talks has not deterred his claims of control. In his Truth Social post, Trump declared: "We have total control over the strait of Hormuz. No ship can enter or leave without the approval of the United States navy. It is 'Sealed up Tight,' until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!!!"
