President Trump claims control of Strait of Hormuz as gas prices hit record highs
President Trump asserts U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz, but oil flow constraints and rising gas prices highlight ongoing challenges.
President Donald Trump has claimed the U.S. has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, but oil flow data and rising gas prices suggest a more complicated situation.
“We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else, only us,” Trump told reporters.
Despite the president’s confidence, the Energy Information Administration reported “severe constraints” in the strait are expected to continue through August, with regional production unlikely to return to pre-war levels until early next year.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said nearly 9 million barrels of oil per day are currently moving through the strait, far below the pre-war level of more than 20 million barrels. He added that alternative pipelines and export routes have increased the total to 15 million barrels per day.
Claudio Galimberti of Rystad Energy said, “It’s better than what they were in March through May, definitely better, but we are still far from the pre-war levels.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that expanding pipelines and export routes could make the strait “irrelevant” within two years. Galimberti added, “Assuming that you have all the government support, then not impossible to build those pipelines very quickly, much quicker than you would in the United States or in Europe.”
Gas prices remain high, with Wednesday marking the highest-ever level for this time of year, according to GasBuddy.
Analysis from the Get The Facts Data Team shows gas prices have fluctuated significantly since Trump took office again in January 2025. The most significant spike occurred in March 2026, following the start of the Iran war, with prices rising over 20% from the previous month. Year-over-year data reveals gas prices in March 2026 were 40% higher than in March 2025.
While progress is being made, constrained oil flow and rising gas prices continue to impact consumers.