President Donald Trump is complaining that Iran had “no right” to close the Strait of Hormuz, just moments after declaring the United States had essentially already won the war.
During a Monday press conference, Trump boasted that the U.S. had “destroyed” Iran’s mine-laying ships and claimed the conflict was effectively over. But in the same breath, he acknowledged that the critical shipping lane remains closed and suggested it was unfair that Tehran could still disrupt global trade.
The contradiction immediately raised eyebrows.
The exchange began when Peter Doocy, a correspondent for Fox News, asked the president a straightforward question: if the U.S. had neutralized Iran’s ability to mine the strait, why couldn’t Washington simply reopen it?
“Well, we could, but it takes two to tango,” Trump said, suggesting that commercial ship owners are reluctant to risk sending their billion-dollar vessels through a potentially mined waterway.
“These ships can cost up to $2 billion,” Trump said. “They don’t want to take a chance.”
He then admitted something surprising: the U.S. isn’t even certain whether Iran has actually planted mines in the strait.
“We don’t know if they even set any mines,” he told reporters.
Despite that uncertainty, Trump insisted Tehran was acting unfairly.
“So it’s a little unfair,” he complained. “You know, you win a war, but they have no right to be doing what they’re doing.”
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. Roughly 20 percent of the global oil supply passes through the narrow corridor, making it a vital artery for the world economy.
Because of its importance, even small disruptions to traffic through the strait can send energy markets into turmoil and push fuel prices higher worldwide.
The ongoing war has already severely disrupted commercial shipping in the region, with many vessels avoiding the route altogether due to security fears.
Declaring victory while fighting continues
Trump has repeatedly claimed the United States has already crippled Iran’s military capabilities.
In recent remarks, the president said the war was “very complete” and argued Iran’s armed forces had essentially been destroyed.
U.S. strikes have indeed targeted major Iranian military infrastructure, including large-scale air raids on strategic sites such as Kharg Island, a key oil export hub where more than 90 Iranian military targets were reportedly hit.
Still, the continuing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz highlights a major contradiction: if the war has already been won, critics ask, why does Iran still appear capable of choking off one of the world’s most important shipping lanes?
Trump has also been pressuring other nations to help secure the strait, saying his administration has asked several countries to send naval forces to patrol the area.
But many U.S. allies have been cautious about becoming directly involved in the conflict, reflecting concerns that the war could spiral into a wider regional crisis.
At the same time, the closure of the strait has already rattled global energy markets and disrupted maritime traffic, underscoring how much leverage the narrow waterway still gives Tehran despite Trump’s claims of total victory.
On one hand, Trump continues to insist that Iran has been militarily defeated. On the other, he is now complaining that the country still has the power to disrupt global shipping — and calling it “unfair” that they are doing so.
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