Trump Claims Control of Strait of Hormuz Amid Shift in Tanker Traffic

President Donald Trump has halted conversations with Iran and claimed total control over the Strait of Hormuz, promising to wage economic warfare against the country and its allies. While Trump posted an image depicting the strait as US territory, maritime data suggests a complex shift in control. According to Kpler, a maritime monitoring firm, over 80 percent of crude oil passing through Hormuz has recently shifted to the Omani route, a corridor recognized by the United Nations but viewed by Iran as an affront to its sovereignty.

Reports indicate that the United States may be managing a silent transit corridor along the southern channel. Axios reports that a task force based at Fort Bragg coordinates the movement of 15 to 20 tankers nightly, facilitating the circulation of approximately 10 million barrels of oil per day. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright provided higher estimates, claiming nearly 15 million barrels per day are moving through Hormuz or alternative routes. In contrast, Iranian generals have publicly claimed complete control of the corridor since March.

Ship traffic patterns show an increase in vessels operating with transponders turned off to avoid detection. Between August 1 and August 19, 148 of 236 ships passed through the strait without active transponders. This trend follows an August 8 report of an Iranian missile hitting an Adnoc tanker and an August 11 incident where a US helicopter struck the cargo ship Vela Nova for allegedly forcing a blockade.