CENTCOM denies Iranian claims and confirms passage of 800 ships through the Strait of Hormuz

Washington, July 9 (KUNA) -- U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Thursday that it has facilitated the safe passage of more than 800 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of May, denying any Iranian control over the strategic waterway in the Arabian Gulf. In a post on its X platform, CENTCOM stated, “Claims by Iranian media that passage through the Strait of Hormuz is permitted only via routes designated by Iran are false.” It added that “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz,” noting that U.S. forces have assisted since the beginning of May in facilitating the safe passage of more than 800 commercial vessels and 380 million barrels of crude oil through the strait. Over the past two days, CENTCOM launched a series of strikes targeting 170 sites in Iran in response to attacks on commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, CENTCOM said these strikes aim to “further undermine Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz,” emphasizing that its forces “remain vigilant and at high combat readiness.” U.S. President Donald Trump had warned in a post on his Truth Social platform yesterday that “if Iranian attacks on commercial ships near Hormuz are repeated, they will face something far more powerful.” (End) A.M.M. / H.S.S.