On Thursday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is still open for commercial shipping. This statement came after an organization linked to Iran claimed that the strait was closed "unt...
On Thursday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is still open for commercial shipping. This statement came after an organization linked to Iran claimed that the strait was closed "until further notice."
CENTCOM stated on social media, "The Strait of Hormuz remains open for transit," and shared an infographic showing that safe paths are available for commercial vessels. It noted that "hundreds of ships" have successfully passed through the strait in recent weeks.
This announcement was a direct response to the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), which had declared that the strait would be closed and instructed vessels with transit permits to wait for further instructions.
According to the PGSA, "Due to tensions caused by U.S. forces in the region and the announcement from Iran's armed forces, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed until further notice."
This back-and-forth occurred just two days after Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, warned that no safe passage exists in the Strait of Hormuz, even though ship traffic appears to be recovering.
Dominguez remarked, "The situation is still very unstable, and there are no reliable security assurances. In such conditions, safe passage cannot be guaranteed," urging shipowners to protect their crews from ongoing risks in the area.
The conflicting statements highlight the increasing tensions over access to the waterway and questions about who has the authority to control shipping in this critical maritime corridor.
The Trump administration has consistently dismissed Iran's claims to authority over the strait. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump stated, "The United States of America controls the Strait of Hormuz — not Iran," and mentioned that U.S. forces had conducted a previously undisclosed operation that enabled over 200 commercial vessels to safely pass through and transport more than 100 million barrels of oil to global markets.