ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US President Donald Trump on Wednesday claimed that Washington has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, describing its naval blockade as a “WALL of STEEL,” despite Iranian authorities continuing to assert their control over the strategic waterway.

“The U.S.A. has total control 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 wrote on Truth Social.

Despite the president’s remarks, Iranian political and military officials have routinely claimed that the strait will remain closed until the US "changes its behavior and accepts Iran's conditions.”

Tehran was able to successfully restrict the strait following the outbreak of a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran in February, followed by a counter-blockade by US forces. Despite reaching a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June, the waterway remains blocked, restricting one of the world’s most strategic energy routes.

“They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] IRGC is decimated and fleeing, and their ‘Leadership’ is uncertain, at best! They have No Money - Their country is ‘shot’,” Trump added.

The president’s remarks echo similar statements made by the Trump administration since the onset of the war, citing destroyed Iranian military capabilities and leadership. The claims have been rejected by Tehran, which has proclaimed its readiness to continue military confrontations against the US.

“Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer,” he said.

Earlier in August, Trump stated that negotiations between Washington and Tehran are “moving along very nicely,” warning that Iran would get hit “really hard” if a deal is not reached to reopen the waterway.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that no negotiations with the US are taking place, stressing that Tehran sees “no possibility” of resuming talks until Washington ends its “violations” of a joint understanding and makes amends.

Trump’s words come as Iran and Oman - both littoral states of the Strait of Hormuz - have reportedly made progress in bilateral talks seeking to establish a joint management system for the strategic waterway that will likely spell an end to free transit.

The warring parties reached a MoU on June 17 to end hostilities and resume negotiations for 60 days. A key Washington condition in the MoU was free navigation in the strait.

The deal fell apart only 21 days later after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iranian forces had attacked a Cyprus-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz.