“The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing.”
- Why this matters
- The article gives a White House official three sentences of statement, including this claim that the Iranian economy is collapsing. Trump's social media boast that "we've got their Strait" also closes the piece.
- The impression it gives
- A reader hears the US account of Iran's position from the White House, US intelligence officials, Saudi and Turkish leaders and Israeli lobbying, and comes away with Washington's picture of Iran as the only one on offer.
- The context
- The article never quotes, paraphrases or seeks comment from Iran's government on the threatened strikes, the blockade or the state of its economy. It notes that the CIA, the ODNI and Saudi Arabia did not respond, but records no request to Tehran. Iran appears only as a target and a subject of US assessments.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“a White House official said in a statement”
- Elsewhere in the article“the White House official said”