Hormuz Shipping Slumps as Washington and Tehran Clash Over Control

Daily transit figures remain well below the recent 10-day average of 12 ships, according to Kpler data. The drop underscores the mounting caution among operators navigating a region that once moved 20 million barrels of oil daily. Tehran has maintained that the waterway will stay closed until the United States meets specific conditions, effectively setting a high bar for any potential reopening.

Contradicting these claims, President Donald Trump asserted on Tuesday that the United States maintains total control over the passage, telling reporters at Joint Base Andrews, “We own it.” This rhetoric clashes with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s recent statement that regional oil flows have returned to pre-conflict levels. However, independent shipping data contradicts Wright’s assessment, highlighting a significant gap between official U.S. claims and the reality faced by commercial vessels attempting to navigate the chokepoint.