The US Central Command has directly contradicted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, calling its claim that the Strait of Hormuz is closed “false.” According to CENTCOM, international shipping from non-Iranian ports continues moving through the waterway without interruption.
For crypto markets, this matters more than it might seem at first glance. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments. When that flow gets threatened, even rhetorically, energy prices spike and risk assets wobble.
The information war over the world’s most important waterway
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed on March 4, 2026, tying the threat to demands that the US lift its blockade on Iranian ports. The US responded with a naval blockade on Iranian ports in April, creating a standoff that has defined energy and financial markets for months.
CENTCOM’s position is that transit remains open for international shipping not involving Iranian ports. Over 100 commercial vessels have been redirected from Iranian ports since the blockade began, but the broader shipping lane itself continues to function.
