Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett reported from Washington DC that U.S. President Donald Trump continues to present an optimistic view of the situation in the Hormuz Strait, claiming that navigation there remains open and normal. However, the actual circumstances appear to differ significantly from his statements.

According to the report, the United States maintains that the Hormuz Strait is an international waterway and that Iran cannot unilaterally impose costs, set routes, or attack vessels. Washington had demanded that Iran publicly acknowledge this position and warned of consequences if it did not comply. Iran ignored the demand, prompting the United States to launch a third round of strikes on about 140 targets, primarily aimed at Iran’s missile capabilities.

Halkett noted that President Trump faces a dilemma as he tries to project stability and minimize the impact on global financial markets, while both the U.S. and Iran remain firm in their stances, further escalating tensions.