Axios: U.S. strengthens Hormuz hand:

Posted on August 28, 2026 by michelleclarke2015
🇮🇷 U.S. strengthens Hormuz hand
 
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesToday marks six months of the Iran War, which began Feb. 28. Axios’ Barak Ravid reports the U.S. is improving its position in the waterway at the center of the quagmire:

The Strait of Hormuz has been Iran’s most powerful card since the start of the war in late February. U.S. officials say that over the past six months, the American military has steadily eroded Iran’s leverage over the crucial waterway.

Why it matters: What began six months ago with the goal of degrading Iran’s missile capabilities and destroying what remained of its nuclear program has evolved into an open-ended fight over the world’s most important energy chokepoint.

U.S. officials say they’ve turned the tide in the strait and believe it could be a watershed moment in the war, bringing gradual relief to the world economy and a better deal with Iran.

“The Iranian response is very mild,” President Trump told Axios in a phone interview yesterday. “They don’t want us to go back at them. That’s the whole ball game. The rest doesn’t matter.”

🚢 Zoom out: The number of ships crossing the strait — and the amount of oil exported through it — remain far below prewar levels. But Iran has lost much of its control over the strait, U.S. officials said.

Iran is still firing at ships. But its ability to target them accurately is limited.

More than 200 mine-like objects have been swept from the main lane of the strait. U.S. officials say only 11 of them were actual mines and just a fewwere properly deployed.

In recent weeks, traffic through the southern channel has grown to 20 to 30 tankers every night, carrying an average of 9 million to 10 million barrels, per U.S. officials. That’s roughly half the prewar volume.

🛢️ Yes, but: Oil experts and tanker trackers are skeptical that the actual figures are that high. U.S. officials say they’re undercounting.

Periodic reports of oil tankers being struck by projectiles also raise questions about the safety of commercial shipping through the strait, despite U.S. assurances.T

rump told Axios: “That sucker is open.”Share this story.
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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