The U.S. military issued a statement denying Iran's assertion that passage through the Strait of Hormuz is permitted only through Tehran-approved shipping lanes, countering that Iran does not control the strait and that U.S. forces have assisted over 800 commercial vessels through the waterway since the beginning of May, according to U.S. military sources.
The U.S. military issued a direct rebuttal to Iran's claims of control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, stating that Iran's assertion that passage is only permitted through Tehran-approved shipping lanes is false. In a statement carried by Israeli media, including N13/Army Radio correspondent Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh, the U.S. military declared: 'Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz; since the beginning of May, our forces have assisted in the transit of more than 800 commercial vessels through the strait.'
The statement comes amid a prolonged standoff over the waterway. Since early June, the IRGC and Iranian military leadership have asserted full control, with Iran's Chief of the General Staff claiming on June 12 that no vessel could pass without Tehran's permission. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected that claim on June 20, stating traffic continued normally. However, The Zioneer previously reported (June 30) that the U.S. Energy Secretary acknowledged Iran had not yet reopened the strait, and that tankers relied on U.S. Navy escort — a formulation the U.S. military now reframes with a more assertive count of escorted transits.
The U.S. military's latest statement appears designed to reinforce the message of operational control and normal traffic flow, directly opposing Iran's narrative of maritime dominance. The number cited — over 800 vessels since May — is the most specific operational figure provided by U.S. forces in this context to date.
3 developments
- DevelopingUS military denies Iranian claims of control over Strait of Hormuz, says shipping lane open
- DevelopingCENTCOM: 55 commercial ships transit Strait of Hormuz, traffic increases
- DevelopingIranian military says Strait of Hormuz closed, dozens of ships turned away
- ConfirmedTrump declares Iran 'finished' as 200 oil tankers cross Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
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