Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Trump Says U.S. Controls Strait as Oil Tankers Continue Passing
President Donald Trump said the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz.
He said some ships are still passing through the important waterway.
He also said Iranian drones sometimes cause trouble.
Trump argued that oil is still reaching markets, which has kept prices below $300 per barrel.
A report said about 5 million barrels of oil are passing through each day.
That is less than the 15 million barrels that moved through before the war.
The U.S. military said its blockade redirected one ship in the previous day.
It also said 65 ships have been stopped from entering or leaving Iranian ports since July 14.
Donald Trump said the United States has complete control of the Strait of Hormuz, apart from occasional Iranian drone activity.
Trump said many boats and large amounts of oil have passed through the strait in recent weeks.
The New York Times reported that about 5 million barrels of oil are moving through daily, compared with 15 million before the war.
Brent crude was around $92 per barrel on Wednesday, after rising from a wartime low of $71.
U.S. Central Command said the blockade had prevented 65 vessels from entering or leaving Iranian ports since July 14.
- Who
- Donald Trump, the United States, Iran, and U.S. Central Command.
- What
- Trump said the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. blockade continues to restrict shipping.
- When
- Trump made the comments on Wednesday; the blockade was restarted on July 14.
- Where
- The comments were made outside the White House, and the shipping restrictions concern the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports.
- Why
- The blockade and U.S. military activity are affecting oil shipments and are being cited by Trump in discussing oil prices and stalled negotiations with Iran.
U.S. Government Account
Reported Shipping Constraints
Control of the Strait
U.S. Government Account
Trump said the United States has complete control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian drones representing only an occasional nuisance.
Reported Shipping Constraints
U.S. Central Command's account of 65 prevented vessels and one newly redirected ship indicates that movement through the strait remains restricted.
Oil Supply
U.S. Government Account
Trump said substantial oil is still coming through and that continued supplies have prevented prices from reaching $300 or $350 per barrel.
Reported Shipping Constraints
The reported daily flow of 5 million barrels is substantially below the 15 million barrels reported before the war, indicating reduced passage.
Negotiations with Iran
U.S. Government Account
Trump has cited the blockade as a reason he is not concerned that negotiations with Iran are currently on hold.
Reported Shipping Constraints
The article does not provide an Iranian response or an alternative explanation for the stalled negotiations.
- U.S. claim
- Trump said the United States has possession and complete control of the Strait of Hormuz, aside from occasional Iranian drone activity.
- Reported daily oil flow
- About 5 million barrels of oil are reportedly moving through the strait each day.
- Prewar daily oil flow
- The reported daily flow was about 15 million barrels before the war.
- Brent crude price
- Brent crude was about $92 per barrel on Wednesday and had remained above $90 throughout the week.
- Wartime low
- Brent crude had fallen to about $71 during a brief ceasefire in late June and early July.
- Vessels blocked
- U.S. Central Command said 65 vessels had been prevented from entering or leaving Iranian ports since July 14.
- Latest vessel action
- The blockade redirected one ship during the previous day.