United States Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a “fact-checking” statement rejecting claims made by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) regarding control over the Strait of Hormuz and mandatory routing for international shipping.
In its statement, CENTCOM wrote: “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz. Despite IRGC threats and attacks, this international waterway remains open to commercial maritime traffic. International vessels continue to transit this route with support from the U.S. military, and over the past two months, American forces have facilitated the passage of more than 900 ships through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The U.S. response followed an IRGC announcement claiming that the Strait of Hormuz was under its “full control” and would remain “completely blocked” as long as “U.S. hostility” persisted.
IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi had also posted a warning on X directed at maritime shipping companies: “The sea-mined route in the southern Strait of Hormuz is the path to destroying your assets; do not be deceived by child-killing America.”
Hours after CENTCOM’s statement, the IRGC issued another announcement in the early morning of Thursday, July 23, claiming that it had prevented three oil tankers from passing through the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC asserted that one tanker suffered an explosion and caught fire after striking a naval mine, while two other tankers altered their course following the blast.
