The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that it had imposed routes on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM announced that the strategic waterway retains its international status and that U.S. forces support the safe passage of commercial ships.
In a statement on the command's official X account, it was noted that the IRGC continues to claim that after threatening international mariners, ships must only use the routes it has designated. In response, CENTCOM stated:
Claim: The IRGC continues to assert that after recently threatening and attempting to assault commercial ships and innocent mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz, international shippers must only use its preferred routes.
Fact: The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway. The IRGC has no authority to impose routes on the free and open flow of traffic. Commercial vessels continue to use the strait with U.S. military support.
It was emphasized that U.S. forces play a key role in protecting maritime commerce in one of the world's most critical energy corridors. Since early May, U.S. forces have reportedly assisted approximately 1,000 commercial vessels and ensured the safe transit of 500 million barrels of crude oil through this narrow waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, through which a large portion of global oil exports passes. Security in the region is therefore of great importance to international energy markets.
The statement came amid rising 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.
