Trump says US has “100%” control of Strait of Hormuz VIDEO

U.S. President Donald Trump said on August 10 that the U.S. Navy had cleared the Strait of Hormuz of mines and now had “100%” control of the key waterway, as disagreements over reparations emerged as a new point of tension between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the U.S. Navy had full control of the strait and declared, “It’s open now.” He added that the United States was “the only one that has control of the Strait of Hormuz right now," Caliber.Az reports. 

Trump described the U.S. military presence in the area as a “steel wall” and said sporadic Iranian mine-laying had not affected U.S. control of the waterway.

“They will, on occasion, drop a mine, and we find the mine,” he said.

The United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports since mid-April.

Iranian officials, however, have said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington meets Tehran’s demands, including lifting the naval blockade. They have also said that ongoing discussions with Oman over a shipping arrangement would not amount to a full reopening of the waterway.

By Sabina Mammadli