Strait of Hormuz 'open to all', US Central Command dismisses Iran's closure claims

WASHINGTON: The United States Central Command has announced that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial maritime traffic, dismissing claims by Iran that the strategic waterway has been closed. In an official statement, the US military assured that transit through the international shipping lanes is operating smoothly and confirmed that its forces are fully prepared to counter Iranian threats to ensure the freedom of navigation.

The US statement came shortly after Iran declared the closure of the critical maritime choke point this morning. The declaration follows a sharp escalation in regional tensions over the past few days, which effectively disrupted a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran after several vessels were attacked in the strait.

Tensions further intensified following recent US military strikes inside Iran, which triggered retaliatory Iranian attacks targeting US military bases located in Gulf countries. Commenting on the strategic importance of the waterway, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz is more crucial to Iran than nuclear bombs, vowing that Tehran would protect it.

However, US Central Command firmly rejected Tehran's assertion of control, stating that Iran does not possess authority over the international waterway, which serves as a vital global transit route for commercial ships to transport goods and fuel. Highlighting the continued flow of traffic despite the political friction, the US military noted that more than 140 ships have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz over the past seven days.