US and Iran Both Claim Control of Hormuz After Weekend Attacks

The United States and Iran each declared Monday that they control the Strait of Hormuz, following a series of attacks across the Middle East over the weekend. The escalation further threatens any diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war. The latest violence began Sunday when Iran struck a container ship in the strait, off the coast of Oman. This attack highlights that the waterway remains a central issue in negotiations. The Strait of Hormuz once carried a fifth of the world’s traded crude oil and natural gas. The narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf is a strategic chokepoint for global energy supplies. Both nations now claim military dominance over the area, raising the risk of further clashes.