Iran<\/a> rather than the route backed by Washington.<\/p>\nSpeaking at a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Aug. 21, Trump said: \u201cI view the Strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now. It\u2019s an American territory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump previously said the United States had \u201ctotal control\u201d of the waterway and shared a map on social media labeling it \u201cnew U.S. territory.\u201d<\/p>\n
The strait runs between Iran and Oman and normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.<\/p>\n
Data from maritime intelligence company Kpler recorded 236 vessels entering or leaving the Gulf between Aug. 1 and 19.<\/p>\n
Of the 88 ships whose routes could be identified, 83 used Iran\u2019s northern corridor, three took the Omani route backed by Washington and two followed the prewar central route.<\/p>\n
The remaining 148 vessels were classified as dark or unidentifiable, meaning their routes could not be reliably established.<\/p>\n
Among 112 oil and gas carriers, 21 used the Iranian corridor and two took the Omani route, while 89 were dark or unclassified.<\/p>\n
The figures do not establish where most vessels sailed. They show, however, that the Iranian corridor accounted for nearly all traffic whose route could be identified.<\/p>\n
Before the conflict, ships generally used established traffic-separation lanes through the central part of the strait.<\/p>\n
Iran now directs authorized vessels along a northern corridor near Larak and Qeshm islands, while Oman has promoted a route closer to its coast with U.S. support.<\/p>\n
Some operators have limited or switched off their Automatic Identification System signals, making commercial tracking more difficult as Washington and Tehran seek to enforce competing rules in the waterway.<\/p>\n
Iran says it will not fully reopen the strait unless the United States lifts its naval blockade and oil sanctions, releases frozen Iranian assets and ends military operations.<\/p>\n
Washington is preparing further economic pressure.<\/p>\n
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Aug. 20 that the United States would impose its toughest sanctions yet, targeting Iran\u2019s oil sales, financial transfers and ship-to-ship trade.<\/p>\n
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei rejected the planned secondary sanctions as an attempt to impose U.S. rules beyond its jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
Bessent is expected to provide details of the measures on Monday.<\/p>\n
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![\"Trump](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6a893e7e7e0533a4eee09e51.jpg\")
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