From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Trump declares US will maintain blockade of Iranian ports, has ‘total control’ over Hormuz
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US President Donald Trump declares that the US will maintain its blockade of Iranian ports, in another sign that negotiations with Tehran are not progressing well.
“The USA has total control over over the Strait of Hormuz. I THINK WE WILL KEEP IT! Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, ‘A WALL OF STEEL,’ and there is nothing Iran can do about it,” Trump writes on Truth Social.
“They have no navy, they have no air force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the IRGC is decimated and fleeing, and their leadership is uncertain, at best! They have no money – their country is shot,” he continues.
Trump has taken to insulting Iran’s leaders of late, after calling them much more reasonable than previous batches less than two months ago when he signed a memorandum of understanding with Tehran that was supposed to permanently end the war between the two countries and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the bully of the Middle East no longer. Praise be to Allah!” Trump says.
The US president is reportedly leaning toward declaring victory over Iran, without securing a deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program as he seeks to disengage from the issue.
But disengaging while maintaining the blockade is likely to keep global gas prices up, while potentially inviting additional Iranian strikes at its neighbors that have destabilized the region.
The Times of Israel Community.