Trump claims US has total control over strait of Hormuz after Iran seizes two container ships

US president says Tehran hobbled by infighting as Pentagon reportedly briefs mine clearance may take six months

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Donald Trump has again said that the US has “total control over the strait of Hormuz”, adding that Iran’s leadership was so hobbled by infighting that it was unclear who was in charge.

But the US president’s claim seemed questionable in the face of the seizure of two container ships by Iranian commandos and a US report warning it could take six months to clear the strait of mines.