Competing Claims Emerge Over Control of Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran War

President Donald Trump announced "Economic D-Day" against Iran and its allies Wednesday as many debate who controls the Strait of Hormuz.

Evidence Is Clear: CNN Business (Lean Left bias) opinion writer David Goldman said the "focal point of the Iran war" is "the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz." The article explained that the "competing rhetoric" between Iran and the US has "caused considerable confusion and doubt." However, according to Goldman, "the evidence is clear" showing that "The United States, patrolling the strait with its navy, is gaining ground—and Iran is losing much of its control of the critical waterway." Goldman, as evidence cited Kpler, a service tracking ships via both transponder and satellites, saying that "more than 80% of liquids transits" through the strait over the last two weeks have utilized the Omani route or have been "dark" transits, meaning they turned off their transponders. Head of crude oil analysis at Kpler said "It increasingly looks like Iran has at least partially lost control of the strait." Goldman mentioned Trump saying that the US has "total control over the strait," and asserted that while this is not true, Iran also does not have total control.

'In Price, Is Knowledge': Bloomberg (Center) opinion writer Javier Blas approached the question of control through the lens of oil prices. Referencing an old market saying, "In price, is knowledge," Blas asserted that "At less than $90 a barrel, it isn't screaming shortage." Blas said that while the release of "strategic reserves is helping," as well as China slashing its oil imports, "that's not the full story." The "market skepticism about [US Energy Secretary Chris] Wright's optimism" over the amount of oil flowing through the strait "is understandable" according to Blas, however, "the naysayers are a bit too sure of themselves." Blas said that with "available data, we can safely say that, at the very least, 5 million barrels a day are transiting Hormuz," which contradicts the figures given by Wright. However, when the emphasis, according to Blas is on "available" data which he explained is quite limited due to the ongoing conflict, we may be missing much of what is really happening, positing that oil is flowing through the strait "perhaps more successfully than we think."

3-Month Low:  CNBC (Lean Left) framed coverage around statements from an Iranian government and military backed agency known as the Persian Gulf Strait Authority saying that "Hormuz remains blocked." The article also cited Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi saying the US "has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures," adding "Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz." CNBC said that "While both sides continue to make contradictory claims," data from Kpler shows ship traffic through the waterway at a "3-month low."

Notable Success: Outlets like Axios (Lean Left) and The New York Post (Right) highlighted the US "stealth operation" guiding millions of barrels of oil daily through the strait near the Omani coast. The New York Post mentioned that the operation does not come without costs, explaining that the US is "forced to deploy ships, helicopters and planes to intercept attacks from Iran," further explaining that "intercepting the strikes is notably higher than what it costs Iran to attack using its cheaper suicide drones." Axios called the operation "a notable success even as the broader war remains at a stalemate."

Related: Trump Says He Will Make Strait of Hormuz US Territory 

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