Iran maintains the initiative in the Strait of Hormuz despite US claims, Armed Forces spokesman says

Iran’s armed forces spokesman rejected the latest “false and ridiculous” US claims about the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran firmly controls the initiative in the strategic waterway.

Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said Saturday that recent claims by the U.S. Central Command commander that one billion barrels of oil had been escorted through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two months were “false” and “ridiculous.”

He added that the CENTCOM commander’s claims were more a failed psychological operation than an accurate reflection of reality.

The senior commander said the remarks were intended to boost the morale of “exhausted and worn-out” US military personnel in the region and justify Washington’s significant financial and human costs there.

Shekarchi said such claims would not alter the reality that the “aggressor” US military had been expelled from the region.

“The initiative in the Strait of Hormuz remains in the hands of Iran’s powerful military,” he said.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper said U.S. forces had facilitated the passage of more than 1 billion barrels of oil through the waterway over the past two months, while providing security for over 2,000 commercial vessels.

He said the strait’s main shipping lanes had been cleared of mines, allowing thousands of vessels to transit the waterway.

Iran restricted transit through the Strait of Hormuz in response to what it described as illegal U.S.-Israeli aggression that began on February 28.

On June 17, Tehran and Washington signed a Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding (MoU) that assigns Iran responsibility for reopening and managing the Strait under Article 5.

However, Washington sought to undermine Iran’s sovereignty over the strategically important global energy chokepoint by establishing an unsafe corridor off Oman’s coast.

The United States also resumed airstrikes on Iran and imposed a naval blockade, violating the agreement intended to end the war.

The US measures prompted Iran to declare the Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic.

Shipping traffic through the strait has dropped to its lowest level in months, driving oil prices to their highest levels during the period.

The Islamic Republic says the critical waterway will reopen only if the US complies with its obligations under the memorandum of understanding.