US Navy Faces Defiant Response as Shipping Avoids Claimed Open Strait of Hormuz

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open and under American control. However, far from Washington's statements, sailors and shipping companies have expressed deep mistrust by avoiding the routes the US claims to secure. American naval forces broadcast messages to vessels in the area, asserting that the southern passage of the strait remains open. Yet, according to the Wall Street Journal, one sailor responded bluntly to the US Navy's calls with the phrase "go to hell," reflecting growing fears among crews after recent deadly attacks in the region.

Despite the US military presence and official assurances, shipping companies remain unconvinced of America's ability to guarantee safe passage through the strait. Data from monitoring firm Kpler revealed a sharp decline in tanker traffic. Of 21 ships crossing the strait on the reported day, none used the southern route near Oman that the US sought to protect. Instead, about 16 vessels chose the northern route approved by Iran, close to its coast, while the remaining five took alternative paths or disabled their tracking devices.

For comparison, the previous week saw an average of 30 ships daily crossing the strait, split between the Iranian and Omani routes. These figures highlight the stark contrast between President Trump's triumphant declaration and the actual situation at sea. While the US promotes the southern route as open and secure, maritime operators prefer the Iranian-sanctioned passage or evade tracking altogether, underscoring persistent security concerns in the strategic waterway.