US Military Rejects Iranian Media Claims, Says Strait of Hormuz Remains Open and Free for Global Shipping

The United States military has rejected claims circulated by Iranian state media suggesting that ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are required to use routes approved by Iran, insisting that maritime traffic through the vital waterway remains free and unrestricted under international law.

In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz and has no authority to dictate the movement or routing of vessels passing through the strategic maritime corridor.

CENTCOM described the Iranian media claims as false, saying the assertion that commercial ships are travelling only through routes approved by Tehran does not reflect the reality of maritime operations in the region.

According to the US military command, the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz continues in accordance with international law, and no single country has the right to claim control over such a critical global shipping route.

The statement added that since May, CENTCOM has supported the safe transit of more than 800 commercial and cargo vessels through the region in an effort to ensure secure maritime operations amid tensions involving Iran.

US officials also claimed that these vessels carried around 380 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the continued importance of the route to the global energy market and the broader international economy.

The remarks come at a time of heightened regional tension, with the Strait of Hormuz once again at the center of geopolitical friction between Iran and the United States. The narrow waterway remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, serving as a key route for global oil exports.

By publicly rejecting the Iranian media narrative, the US military appears to be signaling that it intends to maintain freedom of navigation in the region and challenge any suggestion that Tehran holds exclusive control over maritime traffic in the Strait.