U.S. President Donald Trump declared on August 12 that America holds “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and intends to keep it, describing the naval blockade as a “wall of steel” that leaves Iran powerless. “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!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They have No Money – Their country is ‘shot.’ All they have is FAKE NEWS and 300% INFLATION, and getting worse! Iran is all talk and no action, the Bully of the Middle East No Longer. Praise be to Allah!” (The Jerusalem Post; Breitbart).
Trump’s comments came as Israeli officials assessed the blockade as highly effective. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told ministers in a recent Security Cabinet meeting that “the blockade of Iran is highly effective. The economic crisis there is getting worse.” Experts project Iran’s economy could contract 5.6% this year—its sharpest drop since 1988—amid 88.6% inflation, food prices up 130%, bread prices rising 150%, and the rial losing roughly 20% of its value since the war began. Long lines at gas stations signal deepening fuel shortages, while declining export revenues threaten Tehran’s ability to fund imports, reconstruction, and proxy support (The Jerusalem Post).
Trump has doubled down on his pressure strategy. On August 11 he told reporters the U.S. owns the strait: “We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. . . At some point, maybe they’ll do something, and then they get blown away.” He framed options as letting Iran “crumble economically” under 300% inflation and unpaid troops or hitting harder. U.S. Central Command reported redirecting 55 commercial vessels, disabling three, and boarding two under the blockade. A Navy MH-60 helicopter fired Hellfire missiles into the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova on August 11 as it tried to reach an Iranian port (Breitbart; The Times of Israel).
Iran rejects any notion of American control. Mohsen Rezaei, newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the Strait of Hormuz “will not be opened” until the U.S. changes its behavior, ends the war region-wide (including Gaza and Lebanon), lifts the blockade, releases frozen assets, and meets other conditions. Iranian officials insist the June interim deal—meant to end hostilities and restore Hormuz traffic for 60 days while nuclear and sanctions talks continued—never properly began because Washington violated it within 48 hours. A senior Iranian source told Reuters there is “no talk of an extension” and “absolutely no progress” on reviving it (Reuters; The Jerusalem Post; Breitbart).
Twenty-six countries, including France, the UK, and Canada, plus the European Union’s top diplomat, condemned Iran’s executions “in the strongest terms,” accusing the regime of using the death penalty to “silence dissent.” Rights groups report at least 916 executions since January 2026 (The Times of Israel; Iran International).
Iran has reshuffled its military leadership after heavy losses. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei appointed Ali Abdollahi as armed forces chief of staff, Ahmad Vahidi as IRGC head, and others, with hardliners framing the moves as preparing for “powerful offensive operations” (The Jerusalem Post; Iran International).
Venezuela’s socialist government restored consular ties with Israel after 17 years, citing post-earthquake cooperation—a clear setback for Tehran’s anti-Israel axis (Breitbart). At a BRICS meeting, Iranian Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati demanded “practical initiatives” and greater support, highlighting the coalition’s tepid response during the war (Breitbart). Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthis launched missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea, including a “double-tap” strike that killed at least six on a commercial vessel near Bab el-Mandeb (Breitbart). Reports have also revealed that Iran knew Trump’s exact hotel location during the July NATO summit in Ankara, with U.S. intelligence tracking a possible shoulder-fired missile threat that prompted extraordinary security measures (The Times of Israel).
Blessors of Israel continues to closely monitor this developing story. Please pray for our leaders, troops, Israel and her people, along with the Iranian people.
Dr. Matthew Dodd, Executive Director | August 12, 2026
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