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Published fact-check

Did Jonathan Conricus claim the Strait of Hormuz remains closed pending an order from Donald Trump?

Supported

Claim checked

“Former Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said on Friday the Strait of Hormuz remains closed because no order has been given by President Donald Trump to reopen it. "The only reason the Strait of Hormuz is closed is that President Trump hasn’t yet given CENTCOM the order to open it. Once the order is given, CENTCOM will get the job done," he posted on X.”

Published

Verdict

Supported

Former Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus stated on April 24, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed because President Donald Trump has not yet ordered the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) to reopen it. This statement aligns with reports of a "dual blockade" in the region and previous assertions by the Trump administration regarding the strategic closure of the waterway.

7 reviewed sources behind this verdict.

Reasoning

Multiple news outlets and social media reports from April 2026 confirm that Jonathan Conricus made this specific statement on X (formerly Twitter). The claim is supported by the broader context of the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, where shipping traffic has been largely halted due to Iranian actions and a subsequent U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. Furthermore, reports from Al Jazeera indicate that President Trump has publicly claimed responsibility for keeping the Strait closed to prevent Iranian revenue generation, providing a factual basis for Conricus's assertion regarding the necessity of a presidential order to change the status quo.

Source quality: The report is supported by direct quotes from the individual in question, corroborated by multiple independent news organizations (CNBC, Al Jazeera, Iran International) and detailed situational background from Wikipedia regarding the 2026 crisis.

Key checks

  • Verification of Jonathan Conricus's statement: Reports from Caliber.Az and Iran International on April 25, 2026, confirm that Conricus posted the exact quote regarding Trump and CENTCOM on Friday, April 24.

  • Current status of the Strait of Hormuz: CNBC and Wikipedia reports from late April 2026 describe the Strait as 'basically closed' with very light traffic, characterized by a 'dual blockade' involving both Iranian and U.S. forces.

  • President Trump's stance on the closure: An Al Jazeera report from April 23, 2026, confirms that Donald Trump stated he is the one keeping the Strait closed to deny Iran financial gains, supporting the premise of Conricus's claim.

Confidence

High