US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: The war in the Middle East continues to unfold across military, diplomatic and maritime fronts, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a major flashpoint.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces have ‘total control’ of the strategic waterway, while shipping traffic remains sharply below normal levels.
The latest developments also include Iran-Turkey talks on border security, fresh scrutiny over civilian casualties linked to US military operations in Yemen and new details about Trump’s reported aircraft switch during his Turkey visit.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Trump Says US Has ‘Total Control’ of Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has complete control of the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran continue.
“Iran is going fine – going just absolutely fine. We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it; nobody else, only us. Our navy is unbelievable, and things are going great for our country,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
“I don’t trust Iran. I’m the last person to trust Iran; they’ve lied to me constantly. We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now; they don’t have control,” he added.
Trump’s remarks underline the importance Washington attaches to the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a crucial route for global energy shipments.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Strait of Hormuz Traffic Hits One-Week Low
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below pre-conflict levels. Kpler data cited in recent reports showed that only eight vessels passed through the waterway on Tuesday. That figure remained below the 10-day average of about 12 vessels and marked the lowest daily traffic level since August 5.
LSEG data recorded 11 transits on the same day, compared with 14 a day earlier.
The difference between current traffic and pre-war levels remains substantial. Before Iran closed the waterway after the start of US-Israeli attacks on February 28, around 130 to 140 ships typically crossed the Strait of Hormuz each day.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Turkey & Iran Discuss Border Security & Smuggling
Iran and Turkey have held talks on strengthening security along their shared border as regional tensions continue. Officials from the two countries discussed measures to prevent illegal crossings and tackle drug trafficking, according to official media reports.
The delegations met in Ağrı province in eastern Turkey, where they discussed border security and ways to expand cooperation between Ankara and Tehran.
The talks come at a time when Iran faces increased security pressure across the region. Turkey also shares borders with several areas affected by the wider Middle East conflict, making border management a significant concern for Ankara.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: US Military Operations in Yemen Under Scrutiny
US military operations in Yemen have come under renewed scrutiny after a Pentagon assessment reportedly found a sharp rise in civilian casualties.
According to a US official cited by Reuters, US military operations killed 153 civilians and wounded 243 others in 2025.
The figure represents a significant increase from 2024, when Pentagon assessments attributed two civilian deaths and two injuries to US military operations.
The reported casualties relate to the US campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen. Washington launched military operations against Houthi targets as the Iran-backed group continued attacks affecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Rubio, Bessent Stayed on Larger Air Force One During Decoy Flight
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent were among the senior officials who remained aboard the larger Air Force One during a reported decoy operation involving President Donald Trump.
Trump had travelled to Turkey for the NATO summit before secretly switching aircraft on the tarmac. According to a US official, Rubio and Bessent stayed aboard the blue-and-white Boeing 747 along with other White House staff, military personnel and members of the press.
Most people aboard the aircraft reportedly did not know that Trump had already left the plane. The larger Air Force One then departed Turkey without the president, helping conceal Trump’s actual movements.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Why Did Trump Secretly Leave Air Force One?
Trump’s decision to leave the larger presidential aircraft reportedly formed part of a security operation. The president secretly switched aircraft while in Turkey, with the larger Air Force One continuing its journey as a decoy.
The operation reportedly reflected concerns about protecting Trump’s location and movements amid heightened security risks. The president’s security team has faced increased challenges as the US remains involved in military operations across the Middle East and tensions with Iran continue.
The unusual aircraft switch has since attracted attention because Air Force One normally provides the highest level of security and communications for the US president during overseas travel.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Did Iran Have Exact Location of Trump?
The reported aircraft switch has also raised questions over whether US officials feared that Iran or another hostile actor could identify Trump’s exact location. However, there is no confirmed evidence in the available reports that Iran had Trump’s exact location or that Tehran directly threatened the president during the Turkey visit.
The use of a decoy aircraft appears to have been a precautionary security measure rather than proof that Iran had tracked Trump’s movements. The operation nevertheless shows the level of security precautions surrounding the US president as Washington remains engaged in a confrontation with Tehran.
The decision to keep Trump aboard a different aircraft while the larger Air Force One carried senior officials and journalists also made it more difficult for outsiders to determine which aircraft carried the president.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: What’s Next?
The next phase of the US-Israel-Iran conflict will likely depend heavily on developments around the Strait of Hormuz and efforts to restore commercial shipping.
Trump’s claim that the US has “total control” of the waterway comes as vessel traffic remains far below normal levels. The continuing disruption has already affected global energy markets and increased concerns about shipping costs and supply security.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to face pressure on multiple fronts, while Turkey is working to strengthen security along its border with its eastern neighbour.
