The US Central Command has rejected Iran’s assertion that it controls transit through the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strategic waterway remains an international trade corridor….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday rejected Iran’s claim that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz are required to use routes designated solely by Tehran, stating that Iran does not control the strategic waterway.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said US forces had facilitated the safe passage of hundreds of commercial vessels and large volumes of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since early May.
“CLAIM: Iranian state media claims that transit through the Strait of Hormuz is only permitted through routes designated by Iran. TRUTH: Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Since early May, U.S. forces have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil through the vital international trade corridor.”
The statement was issued as tensions between the United States and Iran continued to escalate following a series of military exchanges and reported attacks involving commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Al Jazeera, the fragile memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran has come under renewed strain after three ships were attacked in the strategic waterway in recent days. Iran reportedly accused the vessels of attempting to transit the strait without obtaining its approval.
The latest incidents have raised fresh concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes, through which a significant proportion of global oil supplies passes.
The United States responded with military strikes on Thursday, including attacks in the Iranian capital, Tehran, according to the report. Iran subsequently launched missiles and drones targeting multiple Gulf nations, while Iranian officials on Friday reported further attacks inside the country.
The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns over the stability of the global energy market, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a critical route for international oil exports.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday claimed responsibility for a missile strike on the US Al-Azraq air base in northern Jordan.
According to a statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the IRGC said it had launched 10 ballistic missiles at what it described as an “enemy command and control centre in West Asia” in retaliation for a recent US attack on Tehran.
The statement said the strikes represented the “second phase” of Iran’s response to what it described as US aggression.
“At 2:20 pm today, IRGC aerospace fighters destroyed the enemy’s command and control centre in West Asia and the enemy air base in Al-Azraq, Jordan, with 10 ballistic missiles,” the statement read.
The latest exchange of claims and military action marks another escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, with developments in and around the Strait of Hormuz continuing to draw global attention because of their potential impact on regional security and international trade.
