The US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) has rejected claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that Tehran controls the Strait of Hormuz, dismissing threats from an Iranian commander to sink approaching US Navy warships.
"IRGC's navy commander has no navy. American forces and regional partners clearly control the Strait of Hormuz," CENTCOM stated on the X platform.
Rebutting claims that Tehran dominates the strategic international chokepoint, the command said American forces helped regional partners move more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway on Monday.
The public exchange follows remarks by IRGC Navy Rear Admiral Ali Azmaei, who threatened direct strikes against US vessels.
"We are waiting for American warships to approach the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz so that we can sink them," Azmaei told state television, claiming Iranian forces are "counting down" for an encounter.
Azmaei asserted that US warships "do not dare" approach, alleging an American aircraft carrier had retreated 700 kilometres from the waterway.
Commercial vessel strikes
Azmaei maintained that the IRGC exercises "smart control" over the corridor by issuing transit permits, claiming Iranian forces are better prepared now than at the outbreak of the war.
Tehran has asserted control over maritime transit through the strait and warned ships against using unauthorised routes since the conflict erupted in late February following US and Israeli strikes, prompting Washington to impose a counterblockade on Iranian ports.
The heightened rhetoric coincided with fresh incidents at sea. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed on Tuesday that a commercial tanker and a container ship were struck by projectiles of unknown origin in the Strait of Hormuz.
The agency said an official inquiry is underway, but it did not disclose casualties or the extent of the damage.
