Trump Says US Has "Total Control" Of Strait Of Hormuz As Iran Seizes Ships; Pentagon Warns Mines Could Take Months To Clear

President Donald Trump reiterated that the United States has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz even as Tehran seized two container ships and U.S. forces boarded a stateless tanker the Pentagon says was carrying Iranian crude. The competing actions have created overlapping maritime interdictions that have kept global oil prices elevated.

Maritime Standoff

Iranian commandos seized two container vessels in or near the strait this week. Hours later, U.S. special operations personnel boarded a stateless oil tanker in the Indian Ocean that the Pentagon alleged was transporting Iranian crude. The twin operations have been described as rival, simultaneous blockades: Iran targeting some commercial traffic and the U.S. stopping vessels it accuses of carrying sanctioned Iranian oil.

Impact on Markets: The standoff, together with broader Middle East tensions, has helped push oil prices toward the $100-per-barrel range, prolonging global market anxieties about supply disruptions.

Mines and Navigation Risks

Complicating efforts to keep shipping lanes open is the presence of suspected sea mines. In a briefing to Congress, Pentagon officials warned it could take as long as six months to clear all suspected mines from key sea routes in and around the strait, according to reporting in the Washington Post. That timeline would prolong risks to commercial navigation and raise insurance and shipping costs.

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Outlook: The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains fluid. Clearing suspected mines and de-escalating maritime interdictions will be critical to restoring unimpeded commercial shipping and calming energy markets.