This is an L.A. Times Studios podcast.

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran is tenuous, and by Tuesday, has turned into another he-said-she-said between the countries.

Iran and the U.S. are both claiming control over the Strait of Hormuz,

the waterway where prior to the war, about 20% of the world's oil or over 100 tankers passed

through each day. The U.S. Navy attempted to escort ships through the strait, with two passing

through on Monday. But as of our recording Tuesday, none have made the journey.

The U.S. Central Command says Iranian drones, speedboats, and cruise missiles that got in the way of the Navy's mission were shot down.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth branded this mission, Project Freedom, and described the U.S. as having a, quote, powerful red, white, and blue dome over the straight.

But here's Torburn Solvet, a Middle East analyst, on the reality of the U.S. involvement in the street.

It's very much welcome that the U.S. now looks to be slightly more involved in guiding ships at least through the

Strait Formers, but both for shipping companies and for insurance companies, you know, they

still have to wait and see how this plays out.

You know, Iran has made it very clear that they do still intend to carry out attacks

against shipping if those ships aren't coordinating their travels with the Iranian authorities directly.

About 1,600 ships and 20,000 seafarers are still stranded in or near the Strait,

according to reporting from the New York Times.

And for those out on sea, the danger is obviously very real.

This is Rahman Kapoor, a captain of a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Well, we are total 24 crew member on board, and we are stuck here ever since the war started

on 28 February.

And the situation has been, you know, various ups and downs are there ever since the war started.

So, but ever since there was a ceasefire announced, situation was pretty normal.

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