Minutes after President Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open and boasted of record oil tanker traffic, an Iranian military source directly contradicted him, saying passage through the strategic waterway remains restricted and controlled by Tehran.
"The number of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz is limited," the Iranian military source told the Fars news agency. "Each day, a certain number of ships are authorized to pass through the strait, and that number changes daily. The scope of permits is updated according to circumstances and conditions on the ground."
President Trump had posted on social media that "19 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, an all-time record. Oil prices are plunging, and the world is a much safer place."
Oil market data tells a more complicated story. Crude was trading at approximately $74 per barrel Tuesday, slightly higher than the previous day, contradicting Trump's claim of a price plunge. That said, oil did reach $110 per barrel at the height of Operation Epic Fury, meaning prices have dropped significantly from their wartime peak.
Iran and Oman simultaneously issued a joint statement declaring they are "committed to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with relevant international law, while emphasizing their sovereignty and rights over the territorial waters of the strait." The two countries said they had agreed to continue dialogue through a joint working group to reach an agreement on future management of shipping through the strait, including services and associated costs.
The contradictions are pointed. Before Operation Epic Fury, the Strait of Hormuz was open. After a military campaign that was presented as an American victory, Iran now controls who passes through it and on what terms - and is making that leverage visible in real time, even as diplomatic talks continue in Washington.
