President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz is "very functional" and remains open for oil transit despite sporadic attacks. During an interview with Fox News, the president dismissed concerns regarding the security of the waterway, which is a critical route for global energy shipments.
The comments follow months of heightened tensions and military conflict between the U.S. and Iran that began on February 28. Conflicting reports emerged Wednesday regarding the status of the strait; while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed Iran and Oman had reached an agreement on shared control and revenues, a senior Iranian source stated that negotiations are ongoing and no final deal has been reached.
Shipping data from Vortexa and Kpler indicates that Saudi Aramco has begun shuttling oil cargoes via ship-to-ship transfers outside the strait to avoid potential attacks. The IRGC has maintained that the waterway will remain closed unless the U.S. meets specific demands, including lifting the blockade on Iranian ports, providing compensation, and removing economic sanctions.
For members of the U.S. military and their families, the ongoing conflict has resulted in some of the longest naval deployments in decades. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its crew of 5,000 sailors are scheduled to deploy to the Middle East for at least seven months, relieving the USS George Washington. This extended operational tempo has drawn scrutiny from Democratic senators, who have called for hearings following reports of mental health struggles and disciplinary actions involving crew members on carriers like the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Global markets and diplomatic institutions are monitoring whether a regional agreement can be reached to stabilize the channel. A failure to secure the waterway could lead to sustained higher energy prices for consumers and continued disruption for shipping companies, which are currently forced to use trackers-off "shuttling" methods or alternative transfer points in Fujairah and Sohar. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani is scheduled to visit Tehran on Thursday to pursue mediation. Trump has stated he has "no time schedule" for formal negotiations with Iran, asserting that U.S. economic and military measures are currently effective.