--- title: "Iran says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US changes stance" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-remain-closed-until-us-changes-stance" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-remain-closed-until-us-changes-stance" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-remain-closed-until-us-changes-stance.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-remain-closed-until-us-changes-stance" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-08-23T04:05:18.260Z" source_reported: "2026-08-22T22:45:38.000Z" updated: "2026-08-23T04:05:18.260Z" trust_score: 45 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-23T04:00:37.383317+00:00" --- # Iran says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US changes stance *Around 40 oil tankers transited the waterway carrying 16 million barrels of oil, according to Axios citing US officials.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 45 of 100, higher is better. Trust 45 – named officials and two independent outlets, yet tankers claim rests on unnamed US sources. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95 – explains significance, includes quotes, specific data, and next steps clearly. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Hype 30 – headlines are clicky, but article content remains factual. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States alters its policy, according to Iranian National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei. - Around 40 oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on the night of August 22, carrying approximately 16 million barrels of oil, Axios reported, citing US officials. - US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a press conference to discuss new sanctions against Iran. Iranian National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States changes its stance. He added that Iran would strike the interests of countries that cooperate with the US in its economic war against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that he would hold a press conference to discuss new sanctions on Iran, which he described as the harshest in history. On the night of August 22, approximately 40 oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz, carrying about 16 million barrels of oil. This information comes from Axios reporter Barak Ravid, who cited US officials. The tankers used the southern channel along protected coastlines. Al Bawaba reported that this activity occurs within Iran's policy of selective passage, where some ships are permitted to cross while others are threatened with targeting if they attempt to pass without approval. ## Disagreement on the duration of the Strait's closure Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and will not reopen until the US changes its attitude and respects its commitments. La Repubblica reported this statement. Al Bawaba also reported that Iran is pursuing a policy of selective passage through the Strait of Hormuz, granting some vessels permission to pass while threatening to target others. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports mention the specific detail that Donald Trump posted a map on social media calling the Strait of Hormuz "new US territory." The centre-rated media did not cover this story at all. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 17% (1) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 83% (5) 3 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-23T04:00:37.383317+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-23T04:45:17.675Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - La Repubblica, the sole left-rated outlet, led with a headline stating "War in Iran, Today's News. Tehran: 'We Will Strike the Countries that Adhere to the U.S. Economic War'." The report highlighted statements from Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, regarding Iran's response to aggressive US actions and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It also mentioned US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement of new sanctions. The outlet also noted Donald Trump's social media post calling the Strait of Hormuz "new US territory." ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - The right-rated reports from Al Bawaba, ussanews.com, Nemos News Network, and Zero Hedge focused on the transit of approximately 40 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz carrying 16 million barrels of oil, citing Axios and US officials. Al Bawaba also reported on Iran's policy of selective passage through the strait and mentioned that the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was preparing to announce the harshest sanctions ever against Iran. The headlines from ussanews.com, Nemos News Network, and Zero Hedge also included the phrase "But Real Crisis Is Diesel." **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 3 - mixed: 2 - high: 1 - unknown: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [ТСН.ua](https://tsn.ua/svit/cherez-ormuzku-protoku-za-odnu-nich-proyshly-blyzko-40-tankeriv-axios-3153770.html) — About 40 Tankers Passed Through the Strait of Hormuz in One Night - [La Repubblica](https://repubblica.it/esteri/2026/08/23/diretta/guerra_iran_usa_israele_news_oggi-425542318) — War in Iran, Today's News. Tehran: "We Will Strike the Countries that Adhere to the U.S. Economic War" - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/22/axios-40-tankers-transited-hormuz-friday-night-but-real-crisis-is-diesel) — Axios: 40 Tankers Transited Hormuz Friday Night, But Real Crisis Is Diesel - [Unknown](https://obozrevatel.com/ekonomika-glavnaya/za-odnu-noch-40-tankerov-perevezli-cherez-ormuzskij-proliv-16-mln-barrelej-nefti-axios.htm) — In One Night, 40 Tankers Were Transported Across the Strait of Ormuz 16 Million Barrels of Oil - [Nemos News Network](https://nemosnewsnetwork.com/axios-40-tankers-transited-hormuz-friday-night-but-real-crisis-is-diesel) — Axios: 40 Tankers Transited Hormuz Friday Night, But Real Crisis Is Diesel - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/e4abeb9f8b9b8d92) — Axios: 40 Tankers Transited Hormuz Friday Night, But Real Crisis Is Diesel - [Al Bawaba](https://albawaba.com/ar/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B1-40-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%B7-%D9%85%D8%B6%D9%8A%D9%82-%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%B2-16-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-1635533) — 40 Oil Tankers Crossed the Strait of Hormuz; 16 Million Barrels of Oil Passed Through the Southern Route. - [Zero Hedge](https://zerohedge.com/energy/axios-40-tankers-transited-hormuz-friday-night-real-crisis-diesel) — Axios: 40 Tankers Transited Hormuz Friday Night, But Real Crisis Is Diesel - [ایران اینترنشنال](https://iranintl.com/en/202608223071) — Around 40 tankers transit Strait of Hormuz Friday night ## Questions **Why will the Strait of Hormuz remain closed?** Iranian National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States changes its policy and respects its commitments. He also indicated that Iran would take action against countries cooperating with the US in its economic war. **How many oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz?** According to Axios, citing US officials, approximately 40 oil tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz on the night of August 22. These tankers were carrying about 16 million barrels of oil. **What action is the US planning against Iran?** US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a press conference to discuss new sanctions against Iran. He described these measures as the harshest in history and indicated they might extend to entities assisting Iran's foreign trade. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-remain-closed-until-us-changes-stance. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Iran says Strait of Hormuz to remain closed until US changes stance", https://mediabias.news/business/iran-says-strait-of-hormuz-to-remain-closed-until-us-changes-stance