The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to maritime traffic, rejecting statements by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps suggesting that Tehran has the ability to close or control the strategic waterway.
In statements to Al Arabiya, CENTCOM said US forces remain deployed in the area and are providing protection to commercial vessels as part of efforts to maintain freedom of navigation and the continued flow of global energy supplies.
CENTCOM said commercial shipping through the strait remains active and that US forces are coordinating closely with regional partners to maintain maritime security.
More than 1.1 billion barrels of oil moved through Hormuz
CENTCOM said more than 1.1 billion barrels of crude oil have passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The command did not specify the period covered by the figure.
The US military said oil flows through the waterway have been approaching levels recorded before the conflict, indicating a recovery in energy shipments through one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is a major route for oil and gas shipments bound for international markets.
The continued movement of tankers is particularly significant amid concerns over energy-supply security, maritime insurance costs and the potential impact of regional military tensions on global markets.
US says Iranian sea mines removed
CENTCOM also said US forces had succeeded in removing sea mines reportedly laid by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
The command did not disclose the number of mines removed or their precise locations but said efforts to protect commercial vessels and preserve freedom of navigation were continuing.
CENTCOM has also accused Iran of deliberately targeting maritime crews and said US forces have escorted or protected thousands of commercial vessels against what it described as Iranian threats.
US maintains pressure on Iran
At the same time, CENTCOM said the US maritime blockade imposed on Iran remains firm and effective, stating that vessels cannot breach the restrictions without US authorisation.
The US position therefore draws a distinction between maintaining restrictions on maritime activity involving Iran and keeping the international shipping route through Hormuz open.
Washington says its priority is to prevent disruption to commercial navigation while maintaining military pressure on Iran.
Focus extends to Bab Al-Mandab
CENTCOM said its maritime-security efforts also extend to the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, another critical shipping corridor connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The waterway is strategically important for vessels travelling between Asia and Europe, particularly those using the Suez Canal.
CENTCOM said coordination with regional partners remains central to efforts to protect commercial shipping and prevent disruptions to international trade and energy supplies.
Why Hormuz matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints. Any sustained disruption to shipping through the strait could have implications for global oil supplies, energy prices, shipping costs and maritime insurance.
CENTCOM's latest statements seek to demonstrate that, despite heightened military tensions, commercial traffic and energy shipments through the waterway are continuing.
The reported 1.1 billion barrels of oil and the movement of thousands of commercial vessels are figures provided by CENTCOM and have not been independently verified by AALIMI NATION.
