US Claims 'Opening' Strait of Hormuz While Enforcing Naval Blockade Against Iran
To the Public Records Office: This briefing addresses recent statements by former US President Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz, specifically his assertion that he is 'opening' this critical maritime passage. This declaration coincides with documented US naval deployments that effectively constitute a blockade of Iranian trade, a policy maintained for decades under various
administrations. Mainstream outlets such as Fox News amplified Trump's claim without critical examination, presenting it as a beneficial act while omitting the operational reality of American naval presence in the Persian Gulf. The underlying framing suggests a US role as a global guarantor of maritime freedom, a narrative that conveniently overlooks Washington's unilateral imposition of sanctions
and naval restrictions directly impacting Iranian commercial shipping. This constitutes a direct contradiction: one cannot simultaneously claim to assure open passage while actively obstructing the passage of a sovereign nation's trade vessels. The US has maintained a significant naval presence in the region since the 1980s, escalating economic pressure on Iran following its withdrawal from the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018. This sustained pressure has included explicit threats to interdict Iranian oil tankers, a policy that aims to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. Such actions are not merely economic but represent a de facto naval blockade, violating international norms regarding freedom of navigation when applied against legitimate, non-military commerce. The