CENTCOM rejects Iranian claim of control over Strait of Hormuz shipping routes

TAMPA, Jul 10: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has rejected Iranian state media claims that commercial vessels can transit the Strait of Hormuz only through routes designated by Tehran, asserting that Iran does not control the strategic waterway.

In a statement, CENTCOM said the claim was false, stressing that the Strait of Hormuz is an international maritime corridor and that Iran has no authority over commercial navigation through it.

According to CENTCOM, US forces have helped ensure the safe passage of more than 800 commercial vessels carrying approximately 380 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait since early May.

The statement comes amid heightened regional tensions and renewed concerns over maritime security in one of the world's busiest energy shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which a significant share of global oil exports passes each day.

CENTCOM said its operations are aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation and maintaining the uninterrupted flow of international commerce through the vital waterway.