Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei said on Aug. 15 that the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz is a direct result of U.S. and Israeli "illegal actions." The remarks come as Washington and Tehran have repeatedly clashed over the waterway, with both sides hardening their positions. Analysts cited by CCTV News said the continuing confrontation and deep differences could trap the situation in a recurring cycle, making it difficult for the strait to fully reopen to navigation in the short term. They added that neither side appears likely to make major concessions soon and that the stalemate is unlikely to change materially unless the United States launches a new round of large-scale military strikes on Iran. In that scenario, Trump's idea of "defeating Iran" and "incorporating the Strait of Hormuz into U.S. territory" would remain unrealized, the report said.