Hormuz data undercuts U.S. control claim as shipping traffic fades

White House officials push back on Trump’s claim of “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz, arguing traffic is better than some trackers suggest while data undermines U.S. dominance. Energy Secretary Wright cited “best available data” placing Arabian Gulf exports around 15 million barrels per day, yet data tracker Kpler logged only about 14 ship crossings on a Tuesday, with 11 using Iran-approved routes. Wright declined to share methodologies, provoking scrutiny over undercounting. The dispute comes as Iran talks intensify and markets doubt a swift resumption of flows; gas prices have topped $4 per gallon, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned the Strait could become irrelevant within the next two years due to underground pipelines.