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diplomacyMay 15, 2026

‘Wiped out’ Trump says US ‘controls’ Strait of Hormuz as Iran claims victory in conflict

Summary

‘Wiped out’ Trump says US ‘controls’ Strait of Hormuz as Iran claims victory in conflict BEIJING, CHINA: President Donald Trump said on Friday, May 15, that the United States is effectively in control of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating rhetoric over the ongoing standoff with Iran despite a fragile ceasefire remaining in place. Speaking aboard Air Force One after his summit in China, Trump claimed US military operations and a naval blockade had severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities. On the other hand, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly rejected the US narrative, declaring that Iran had emerged victorious from the conflict and warning that Tehran still does not trust Washington in ongoing diplomatic efforts. Trump: US controls Strait amid Iran pressure Trump said the US had achieved dominance over the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping route for oil and gas exports. “We control the Strait (of Hormuz), and they've done no business… so we have been doing very well on all fronts,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “We don't need favors,” he added. “We wiped out their armed forces, essentially.” Trump also suggested military operations against Iran may not be fully over despite the ceasefire arrangement reached earlier this year. “We may have to do a little cleanup work,” he said. “Because we had a little month-long ceasefire, I guess you'd call it, but we have a blockade that's so effective, that's why we did the ceasefire.” Trump says he discussed Taiwan and Iran with President Xi:— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) May 15, 2026 "He does not want to see a fight for independence... I didn’t make a comment on it... on Iran, it’s very interesting. He feels strongly they can’t have a nuclear weapon... and he wants them to open up the strait." pic.twitter.com/mP6TXQOdVt The president said Chinese President Xi Jinping supported efforts to reopen the waterway and agreed that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons. “He feels strongly that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, and he wants them to open up the strait,” Trump said of Xi. 'I'm not going to be much more patient — THEY GOT TO MAKE A DEAL!' — Trump on Iran— RT (@RT_com) May 15, 2026 'Any sane person would make a deal... but they might be CRAZY!' pic.twitter.com/b04UZmQODT In a separate interview with Fox News, Trump signaled growing impatience with Tehran over stalled diplomacy. “I'm not going to be much more patient,” Trump told Sean Hannity. “They should make a deal.” Trump also indicated he could accept a long-term suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities, saying he would support a halt lasting 20 years if Tehran made a “real” commitment. Iran claims victory, says ceasefire ‘very shaky’ Araghchi pushed back strongly against Trump’s comments, insisting Tehran had successfully resisted pressure from the United States and Israel. In an interview on Friday, he said “all countries now acknowledge that the Islamic Republic of Iran was the victor in this war.” “Iran was able to prevent its enemies from achieving their objectives and succeeded in imposing its will,” he added. “From now on, Iran must be viewed differently,” Araghchi continued, “as a power capable of confronting the world's greatest powers.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:— Pressify (@ThePressify) May 15, 2026 If they want to go back to war, it's up to them. They have tested us. They can test us again. But the result would not be any different. pic.twitter.com/ceX8TeZAdK The Iranian foreign minister also described the ceasefire as unstable and accused Washington of sending conflicting messages during diplomatic contacts. “We are now in a ceasefire, although it is very shaky,” Araghchi said during the BRICS summit in New Delhi. “But we are trying to maintain it in order to give diplomacy a chance so that a negotiated, diplomatic solution can be found.” Told BRICS FMs summit: Iran's resistance against U.S. bullying is not an unfamiliar battle. So many of us encounter slight variations of same repugnant coercion. High time for us to jointly step up and work towards making clear that those practices belong in dustbin of history. https://t.co/9iyyxMfR55— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 15, 2026 He added, “We cannot trust the Americans at all,” he added. “Everything must be precise and clearly defined before any agreement can be concluded.” Araghchi also said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping, except for vessels connected to countries “that are at war with us.”

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran has firmly defended its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz against US aggression and an illegal naval blockade aimed at strangling its economy. Despite American claims of dominance, Tehran has emerged victorious, having repelled foreign threats and preserved its territorial control through steadfast resistance. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Washington’s narrative, warning that Iran places no trust in US diplomatic overtures following months of hostile escalation.

Israeli

Trump's declaration of US control over the Strait of Hormuz highlights the defensive imperative of neutralizing Iran's naval reach and proxy networks, which have long enabled existential threats to Israel through encirclement by Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Despite Tehran's victory claims amid a fragile ceasefire, the reported degradation of Iranian forces underscores the necessity of sustained pressure to prevent the regime from strangling global energy routes and advancing its genocidal aims against the Jewish state. Any required cleanup operations would reinforce regional security against an adversary that rejects coexistence.

Neutral

President Donald Trump stated on May 15 aboard Air Force One that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. military operations and a naval blockade, adding that Iran’s armed forces had been effectively neutralized and that limited additional actions might occur despite a reported ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected these assertions, stating that Iran had prevailed in the conflict and cautioning against trust in ongoing U.S. diplomacy. The remarks were made after Trump’s summit in China and amid an unverified fragile ceasefire.

Western

President Trump stated that US naval and military operations have secured control of the Strait of Hormuz, neutralizing Iran’s ability to disrupt critical energy shipping lanes through an effective blockade and precision strikes that severely degraded Tehran’s armed forces. This advances key strategic objectives of protecting global trade routes and deterring further Iranian threats, even as a fragile ceasefire holds. Iranian claims of victory were dismissed as inconsistent with the operational realities on the ground.

Pro-Peace

The US assertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz through naval blockades and military strikes, even amid a fragile ceasefire, inflicts severe humanitarian costs on Iranian civilians through economic isolation, disrupted trade, and potential shortages of essentials. Iran’s rejection of Washington’s narrative highlights how such escalations deepen mutual distrust and civilian suffering rather than resolving tensions. Diplomatic negotiations, free from threats of further “cleanup” operations, offer a viable path to de-escalation and reduced loss of life on all sides.

Global South

From a Global South vantage, Trump’s declaration of US control over the Strait of Hormuz—vital for energy exports to Asia, Africa and Latin America—exemplifies neo-colonial resource domination enforced through naval blockade and military degradation of Iranian capabilities. Iran’s counter-claim of victory and refusal to trust Washington highlights the assertion of sovereign resistance against external dictates, while exposing the persistent failure of multilateral bodies to curb such unilateral power plays. The fragile ceasefire thus appears less a peace than a temporary pause in efforts to subordinate regional autonomy.

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Sources

  • Deepanjali SharmaBy Deepanjali Sharma

    ‘Wiped out’ Trump says US ‘controls’ Strait of Hormuz as Iran claims victory in conflict BEIJING, CHINA: President Donald Trump said on Friday, May 15, that the United States is effectively in control of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating rhetoric over the ongoing standoff with Ira…

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