CENTCOM denies Iranian claims of control over Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has issued rebuttals to claims made by Iran regarding maritime control and conduct in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM dismissed assertions from an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval commander that the IRGC controls the strait and could sink approaching U.S. warships, stating that the commander “has no navy” and that U.S. forces and regional partners maintain clear control.

CENTCOM further denied allegations submitted by Iran to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Iran had claimed that U.S. forces use “threatening, abusive, and provocative language” over radio frequencies to intimidate Iranian sailors. CENTCOM characterized these claims as false, asserting that the U.S. conducts its blockade with professionalism and that Iran is the only state attacking civilian mariners in the region.

Despite these tensions, CENTCOM reported that commercial traffic continues to pass through the strait under coordinated protection. The command also noted that U.S. forces recently assisted Gulf partners in transporting more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway.