In Washington, open.
In Tehran, shut.
At sea, the answer was less tidy.
In a Truth Social post quoted by Reuters, Donald Trump said: “The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.”
Iran maintained that the strait remained closed to shipping. Qalibaf said reopening depended on the United States ending its blockade of Iranian ports, lifting oil sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and ending threats and military operations. Those were Iran’s stated conditions. Reuters did not independently establish them as agreed terms, and the report did not establish what, if anything, had been accepted privately.
The operational evidence was narrower than either declaration.
Preliminary shipping data cited by Reuters put Monday’s crossings through the strait in single digits. That does not establish normal traffic or lasting safe access.
Reuters also relayed a UK Maritime Trade Operations report that an unknown projectile struck a vessel leaving the strait. The engine room was damaged. There was one crew casualty. Oman’s Coast Guard was assisting the remaining crew.
The report did not identify who fired the projectile.
Diplomacy had acquired the same difficulty.
Trump said: “There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The day before, his son-in-law and special envoy, Jared Kushner, had described talks as “probably more robust” than ever. Reuters did not establish what private contacts existed or explain the difference between the two accounts.
Iran also sent more than one kind of signal. Reuters, citing the semi-official Fars news agency, reported that Mohammad Mokhber said Iran remained open to dialogue but did not regard negotiation as surrender.
Meanwhile, the temporary ceasefire agreement expired Monday. The 60-day period set by a June 17 memorandum for a broader nuclear and sanctions agreement also elapsed. Trump said he would not extend it. Reuters reported no fresh strikes by either side Tuesday.
So the available answer remained narrow.
Some vessels crossed. The preliminary count was in single digits. One outbound vessel was reportedly struck. The report did not independently establish normal movement, safe access over time, complete mine clearance, or responsibility for the projectile.
“Open” and “shut” remained official claims.
The ships had the less convenient information.