Iran said the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked and will not reopen unless its conditions are met, directly disputing U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the United States has "total control" over the strategic oil shipping route. Market impact is already visible in shipping flows: Kpler data cited in the report showed vessel traffic near a three-month low, with a five-day average of about 13 ships on Tuesday, roughly 90% below the pre-conflict daily average of 130 before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran's position has hardened alongside Washington's, with both sides seeking "reparations" and Iran's Supreme National Security Council demanding an end to the U.S. naval blockade, sanctions relief, American troop withdrawals and war reparations before reopening the strait. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a top advisor to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Iran believes it has gained the upper hand and argued the U.S. military appeared weaker than previously thought, adding that prolonging the conflict could help Iran build deterrence (discouraging future attacks through expected costs).