United States of America

US Fires on Ship, Trump Claims 'Total' Hormuz Control

Does the U.S. hold real leverage over the Strait of Hormuz or is Iran still calling the shots?

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US Fires on Ship, Trump Claims 'Total' Hormuz Control

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Above: Marine One flies past the White House in Washington, DC, on Aug. 11. Image credit: Allison Robbert/The Washington Post/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Iran narrative

Trump's claim of "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz falls apart the moment CENTCOM's activities are actually assessed. Iran hasn't tried to initiate contact with the U.S. and it's nowhere near budging, with advisers tying the strait's reopening directly to Tehran's demands being met. Trump's unsubstantiated comments do nothing to determine who holds real leverage in the waterway.

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Pro-Trump narrative

The U.S. Navy controls the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's economy is in freefall and the leverage has completely shifted. Iran spent decades funding attacks, killing Americans and destabilizing the region, and now it wants reparations — that's a non-starter. A broke, isolated regime making demands from a position of weakness shouldn't be negotiated with; it should be reminded of exactly where things stand.

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