Iran Shut Hormuz and Hit the US 5th Fleet as Trump Claimed He Controls the Strait

Key Takeaways

• Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz and struck the US 5th Fleet in Bahrain and Kuwait after the new US strikes — IRGC hit two oil tankers attempting transit
• CENTCOM denied the closure, saying ships are still transiting, while Trump said the US controls Hormuz as the war passes its 100-day mark
• JD Vance says a deal is “very close” but could take months, as Macron invited Gulf states to G7 and Iran stopped all US negotiations entirely

The Iran war entered a new phase on June 11. This is after Tehran announced a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. The move came after fresh US military strikes on targets near Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Jask, and Sirik. While the oil price today jumped on reports of the shutdown, confusion quickly followed. Iran said the waterway was closed until further notice. Meanwhile, US officials insisted commercial traffic was still moving through the strait.

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Why CENTCOM Says Hormuz Is Open and Iran Says It Is Closed, and Both Cannot Be Right

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed until further notice.” This came after US strikes on Jask, Sirik, Qeshm, and Bandar Abbas. Iranian state media also reported that two oil tankers attempting to pass through the waterway were struck after allegedly ignoring warnings issued by the IRGC.

The escalation followed a new round of US military operations targeting surveillance systems, communications networks, and air-defense sites. Tehran also claimed responsibility for attacks on the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan. Bahrain activated air raid sirens twice while Kuwait reported intercepting hostile aerial targets.

CENTCOM disputed Tehran’s account of events. In a statement posted on X, the command said commercial ships were continuing to transit through Hormuz. This is despite Iranian claims of a complete shutdown.

President Donald Trump went further, saying a US military operation had helped move more than 100 million barrels of oil through the strait. In addition, it allowed more than 200 commercial vessels to pass safely. He added that the US, not Iran, controlled the waterway.

This leaves markets facing two competing narratives. Iran says the Strait of Hormuz oil route is effectively closed and vessels risk being targeted. The US says shipping continues despite the threats.

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Trump’s Iran Deal Prospects Face New Uncertainty

The military escalation comes as diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Iranian media reported that Tehran had halted indirect negotiations with Washington. Vice President JD Vance said the two sides remain “very close” to an agreement but acknowledged that a breakthrough could come next week or take months. Trump has continued to insist a deal remains possible even as military exchanges intensify.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also pushed back against US threats, saying attacks on critical infrastructure would not weaken Iran’s position. “Critical infrastructures are the lifeblood of the people,” he wrote on X, adding that Iran would stand firm against pressure and threats.

The diplomatic picture comes as the conflict moves beyond the 100-day mark. French President Emmanuel Macron has invited leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE for discussions around the upcoming G7 summit. Meanwhile, energy markets continue to watch developments closely.

According to the US Energy Information Administration, roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies normally move through Hormuz. This is making any disruption to the route a key driver of oil prices today and broader market sentiment.

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