Lead

US President Donald Trump has said that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will fully resume after the conflict with Iran ends, while simultaneously stating that Washington has no plans to take an active role in normalizing transit through the strategic waterway. His remarks, delivered during a televised address to the nation and in comments to reporters, come amid an ongoing military operation against Iran that began on February 28.

The conflicting statements highlight the complexity of the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world's oil passes. Trump told reporters on April 1 that the US would "be leaving very soon" and that countries like France and China would need to "fend for themselves" when transiting the strait. The following day, he said in a televised address that "when this conflict is over, the Strait will open up naturally," adding that Iran would want to sell oil to rebuild.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this story originates from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which has provided multiple angles on the developing situation. Across five separate reports, TASS has covered statements from President Trump, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and an Iranian diplomat, painting a picture of divergent international positions on the future of the strait.

Trump's statements have been reported in three separate TASS articles, each highlighting different aspects. In one report, he emphasized that the US "imports almost no oil through the Strait of Hormuz" and that countries relying on that route should take the lead in protecting it. In another, he said the US "has nothing to do with" the strait's operations. A third report quotes him predicting the strait will "open up naturally" after the conflict, citing Iran's economic needs.

Russia's position, as conveyed by Foreign Minister Lavrov and reported by TASS, is that the US cannot simply demand Iran unblock the strait while continuing military operations. Lavrov said the problem isn't just "a matter of demanding that Iran stop hostilities," but that the US needs to cease hostilities itself.

From the Iranian side, TASS reported that Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, the supreme leader's special representative in India, called for American ships to leave the Persian Gulf, saying regional countries "can provide security to all ships." He also expressed hope that the strait would remain open, but noted the situation is "not good now."

Key Claims

The following are the main claims reported across the five TASS articles:

  • The US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28, striking major Iranian cities including Tehran. This is reported consistently across multiple articles.
  • The White House justified the attack by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran. This justification is reported but its validity is not independently assessed in these articles.
  • Iranian authorities decided to close the Strait of Hormuz to vessels linked to the US, Israel, and countries that supported the aggression against the Islamic Republic. This was reported in multiple articles.
  • Iran has allowed friendly countries, including Russia, India, Iraq, China, and Pakistan, to pass through the strait, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as reported on March 25.
  • President Trump stated that the US has no plans to normalize shipping in the strait, saying countries that use it for oil transit should take care of it. This claim appears in a single article.
  • President Trump predicted that shipping in the strait will be fully restored after the conflict ends because Iran will need to sell oil. This is also a single-source claim.
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US needs to cease hostilities rather than simply demand Iran unblock the strait. Reported in one article.
  • The Iranian supreme leader's special representative in India said American ships must leave the Persian Gulf. Reported in one article, quoting the Times of India.
  • One article mentions claims that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other key Iranian leaders were killed in the joint US-Israeli attack. This claim appears in the background sections of some articles but is not a central focus and has not been independently verified.

Perspectives

United States

President Trump has emphasized that the US does not depend on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and therefore has no obligation to secure the waterway. He has framed the conflict as a military operation aimed at neutralizing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran, and has expressed confidence that shipping will resume naturally once the conflict ends, driven by Iran's economic self-interest.

Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has argued that the US cannot expect Iran to reopen the strait while military operations continue. He has suggested that the root cause of the disruption is the US-Israeli aggression, and that the US must first cease hostilities for any normalization to occur. Russia is also named among the countries Iran has allowed to continue using the strait.

Iran

Iranian officials have justified the closure of the strait to US- and Israel-linked vessels as a response to the military attack. They have sought to maintain passage for friendly nations and have called for American ships to leave the Persian Gulf, arguing that regional countries can provide security themselves. The special representative in India expressed a desire for the strait to remain open but warned that the current situation is tense.

Contextual Notes

The events described in these reports have not been confirmed by independent sources outside of TASS. The claim that Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in the attack is particularly significant and has not been corroborated by other outlets. Readers should note that TASS is a Russian state news agency, and its reporting may reflect official Kremlin perspectives. The timeline of events, starting with the February 28 military operation and the subsequent closure of the strait, is consistent across the articles reviewed.