Majed al-AnsariMohammad Bagher GhalibafRasoul Sanaei-RadMohsin NaqviJD VanceHossein TaebDonald TrumpAlan EyreNegar MortazaviAbbas AraghchiBasijBasij OrganisationKhatam al-Anbiya Central HeadquartersMiddle East InstituteIslamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsCenter for International PolicyHuman Rights Activists News AgencyPersian Gulf Strait Authority

Iran, US trade competing claims over Strait of Hormuz control; Iran says strait remains blocked, US claims control as talks deadlock

Iran and the U.S. are locked in a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran asserting the strait remains blocked and under its management, while the U.S. claims it has regained control. Tensions escalate as talks between the two nations stall.

Reuters Reuters+1 source13 August 2026 · 13:14 UTC
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Iran and the U.S. are engaged in a fierce battle over the control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments. Iran's Basij paramilitary unit head, Hossein Taeb, declared the strait is "under Iran's control and management," countering U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion of American dominance over the area.

The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian shipping, claiming to protect freedom of navigation for vessels not bound for Iran. However, Iran's military command stated that no vessel can transit the strait without Tehran's permission, labeling U.S. claims as "lies and falsehoods."2

After a ceasefire agreement in June, tensions escalated when Iran resumed attacks on vessels, leading to renewed U.S. strikes on Iranian positions. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized U.S. intelligence failures, stating that Washington's actions in the strait represent a significant miscalculation.3

Despite U.S. claims of control, Iranian forces are actively preventing ships without their approval from navigating the strait, which is crucial for global oil transport. Negotiations between Iran and Oman regarding the strait's management are reportedly at an advanced stage, with Qatar acting as a mediator. The situation remains tense as both sides refuse to back down, complicating efforts for a broader peace deal.5

As the conflict continues, the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of geopolitical tension, impacting global oil markets and regional stability.

Key Insight
“Iran's Supreme National Security Council has set six conditions for reopening the strait, including lifting the US naval blockade and releasing frozen assets. Meanwhile, Qatar says Iran-Oman negotiations have reached an advanced stage, with Pakistan also mediating to bring the US and Iran to the table.”
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CuriousCats studied:
1
ReutersReuters
“The Strait of Hormuz is "under Iran's control and management", ‌the recently appointed head of Iran's Basij paramilitary unit said on Thursday, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States had of the strategic waterway.”
Reuters →
2
Al JazeeraAl Jazeera
“Iran continues to deny claims by the United States that it controls the Strait of Hormuz as talks aimed at negotiating a peace deal between the two sides falter.”
Al Jazeera →
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