By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States has "total" control over the Strait of Hormuz and will "keep it," as uncertainty continues over when and whether the waterway will fully reopen amid Tehran's calls for Washington to meet its demands.

Trump made the remarks in a social media post amid reports of progress in negotiations between Iran and Oman over shipping lanes in the strait, a crucial route for shipments of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities that the Islamic Republic effectively closed during the Middle East war.

"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.

"They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, their remaining soldiers are unpaid, the IRGC is decimated and fleeing, and their 'Leadership' is uncertain, at best!" he added. IRGC stands for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran's elite military force.

He went on to say, "They have No Money -- Their country is 'shot.' All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300 percent INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer."

Despite the talks with Oman over the strait, Tehran has reportedly said that the strait would remain closed until Washington agreed to its demands, including war reparations, the lifting of a U.S. naval blockade and the withdrawal of U.S. forces around Iran.

South Korea and other countries have hoped for the full reopening of the strait as they rely heavily on the waterway for energy imports. Disruptions to shipping in the strait have driven up global energy prices and affected the world economy.

sshluck@yna.co.kr

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