Centcom to Al Arabiya: Hormuz is open and Iran does not control it

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The US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is open to maritime navigation, denying the validity of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s statements regarding its closure, and stressing that Tehran does not control the strategic waterway.

The Central Command said, in exclusive statements to Al Arabiya, that American forces are present in the Strait of Hormuz region, and are providing the necessary protection for commercial ships, as part of its efforts to ensure the continuation of navigation and the flow of global energy supplies.

She added that her focus is on keeping the strait open, stressing that the movement of commercial ships continues, and that she is fully coordinating with her partners regarding the security of maritime navigation in the region.

Centcom accused Iran of deliberately targeting sailors, noting that American forces accompanied thousands of commercial ships to protect them from threats.

The Central Command also questioned the credibility of Iranian statements regarding control of the strait, stressing that the field reality does not support the Revolutionary Guards’ announcement of its closure.

In a development related to navigation security, Centcom announced that US forces were able to remove sea mines planted by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Central Command did not clarify, in the available statements, the number of mines that had been removed or the locations where they were found, but it stressed the continuation of efforts aimed at protecting the ships and ensuring their freedom of passage.

It revealed that more than 1.1 billion barrels of oil crossed the Strait of Hormuz, without specifying the time period included in this number.

She confirmed that the flow of oil through the strait is approaching levels recorded before the war, an indication, according to her statements, of an improvement in the movement of energy transport through one of the most important sea lanes in the world.

The Strait of Hormuz represents a vital artery for oil and gas trade, as it connects the Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and energy shipments to global markets pass through it.

The return of tanker traffic is of particular importance in light of the concerns raised by the war regarding the security of supplies and the high costs of shipping and marine insurance.

In parallel with the confirmation of the continuation of navigation through Hormuz, the US Central Command stressed that the naval blockade imposed on Iran is “firm and effective.”

Centcom said that no ship can bypass the naval blockade on Iran except with permission from American forces.

These statements reflect a distinction between US measures directed against Iran, on the one hand, and the continuation of commercial navigation through the Strait, on the other hand.

While the Central Command confirms that it imposes strict restrictions on the movement of ships included in the blockade, it stresses at the same time that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to maritime trade.

The US Central Command's statements were not limited to the Strait of Hormuz, as it confirmed that it also pays attention to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Bab al-Mandab constitutes a strategic seaway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, and is considered one of the main routes for the movement of ships heading between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.

The reference to Bab al-Mandab comes in the context of Washington's interest in the security of vital sea lanes in the region, especially those linked to international trade and energy supplies.

According to Centcom's statements, coordination with partners represents an essential part of American efforts to protect navigation and prevent disruption to ship movement.

The Central Command confirms that its military presence in the Hormuz region continues, and that it provides the necessary protection for commercial ships, in the face of what it describes as Iranian threats.

On the other hand, Centcom rejects the Revolutionary Guard’s story about closing the strait, and confirms that Iran has no control over it.

The importance of these statements is highlighted in their combination of three interconnected files: the continuation of shipping traffic, the recovery of oil flows, and the tightening of the naval blockade on Iran.

With the announcement of the passage of more than 1.1 billion barrels of oil and the escort of thousands of commercial ships, US Central Command seeks to confirm that its military measures did not prevent the continuation of trade across the Strait.

While denying the closure of Hormuz and emphasizing the effectiveness of the naval blockade, Washington confirms that its priority is to keep the sea lanes open, while continuing military pressure on Iran and protecting ships crossing the region.