The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) categorically rejected the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' (IRGC) claims of authority over maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. In its statement, CENTCOM emphasized that the strategic strait is open to international navigation and that commercial vessels continue safe passage with U.S. military support.
In a statement posted on its official X account, CENTCOM addressed the IRGC's claims that international commercial ships must use only the routes it has designated and responded with the following:
Claim: The Iranian Revolutionary Guards continue to claim that international mariners must use only their preferred routes, after recently threatening and attempting to attack commercial ships and innocent sailors transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Reality: The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway. The IRGC has no authority to impose routes on free and open traffic flow. Commercial ships continue to use the strait with U.S. military support.
Noting that U.S. forces play a crucial role in protecting maritime trade in one of the world’s most strategic energy corridors, CENTCOM reported that since early May, approximately 1,000 commercial ships have been assisted and 500 million barrels of crude oil have safely transited the narrow waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is a critical chokepoint through which a large portion of global oil exports pass. Therefore, the security of the strait is vital for international energy markets.
The statement came amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. While Washington accuses the IRGC of threatening commercial shipping and undermining freedom of navigation in the Gulf, U.S. and allied forces have increased their naval presence in the region to ensure the uninterrupted flow of global trade.
