Washington DC: The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday (local time) that Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz, even as Tehran announced a closure of the strategic waterway amid rising tensions after Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
A CENTCOM spokesperson, speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic, said the United States does not view Iran as exercising control over the vital maritime chokepoint used for global energy shipments, ANI reported. The spokesperson added that American forces are closely watching activity in the strait to guarantee the uninterrupted passage of commercial vessels.
Monitoring Navigation, Protecting Commerce
CENTCOM underscored that its primary mission in the region is to ensure safe navigation and to protect merchant shipping. The statement comes as regional military activity has intensified following cross-border strikes and retaliatory actions connected to the conflict in Lebanon.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Says Strait Closed
Earlier on Saturday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed after Israeli strikes in Lebanon, a move Tehran linked to what it described as breaches of a ceasefire. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported the IRGC Navy’s announcement, which warned vessels to stay away from the waterway.
The IRGC Navy’s statement tied the action to “the crimes of the Zionist regime in Lebanon” and accused the United States of failing to uphold parts of a 14-point memorandum of understanding intended to halt hostilities in the region. The navy also issued a stark warning about the risks of approaching the strait, saying: “Considering the crimes of the Zionist regime in Lebanon and the violation of America’s commitments to establish a ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz is closed to all vessels.”
“It is emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and vessels should not approach the Strait of Hormuz; otherwise, their security will be at risk,” the IRGC Navy added, according to IRIB.
