The U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement on X refuting claims made by the Iranian government regarding the status of the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, reports suggesting the strait is closed are "false," and the waterway remains fully operational for commercial vessel transit. The U.S. military emphasized that Iran does not exercise control over the international passage, noting that thousands of ships have successfully navigated the route over the last four months.

This statement follows reports from Iranian officials claiming they had intervened in maritime traffic within the region. Specifically, Iran stated that its forces had stopped two vessels attempting to exit the strait and had turned back four additional tankers. While the U.S. maintains that the strait is open, the conflicting accounts highlight ongoing tensions regarding the security and governance of this critical global shipping lane. The U.S. position serves as a direct challenge to the narrative presented by Iranian authorities, asserting that international transit rights remain unaffected by recent Iranian military maneuvers.