US President Donald Trump said that he does not trust Iran and claimed that the United States has “total control” over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after returning from Ohio on Tuesday, Trump said he had no confidence in the Iranian government, accusing Tehran of repeatedly deceiving him.

“I don’t trust Iran. Why — are you saying I trust Iran!? I’m the last person to trust Iran,” Trump said.

“They’ve lied to me constantly,” he added.

Trump also asserted that the US had full control over the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial global energy shipping route that has remained at the centre of the confrontation with Iran.

“We have total control over the Hormuz Strait right now. They don’t have control. We have total control. We own it,” he said.

Tensions in the Middle East continued to escalate as Washington and Tehran have yet to reach a final agreement to end the conflict, while the continued disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has affected global energy supplies.