US Central Command rejects Iran's claim of full Hormuz control

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Monday labeled as "incorrect" a statement by a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard official claiming Tehran exercises complete control over the Strait of Hormuz. The command issued this rebuttal via the X platform shortly after the earlier assertion was made.

CENTCOM challenges naval dominance

According to CENTCOM, Iran lacks a functional navy because American forces have sunk its fleet. The command argued that the continued passage of thousands of maritime vessels through the strait serves as proof against any notion of Iranian control. Additionally, more than one billion barrels of oil were transported through the waterway in just the past few months.

Iranian army chief details territorial split

Earlier on Monday, the Iranian news agency Mehr reported statements from Habibollah Sayyari, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff. Sayyari declared that the area west of the Strait of Hormuz, the strait itself, and the Persian Gulf are under the full control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

Sayyari further explained that the region east of the strait and the northern Indian Ocean fall under the exclusive authority of the regular Army Navy. He stated that while enemy rhetoric exists, the reality is that the Strait of Hormuz remains fully under their supervision.

Operational zones and US response

The Iranian general asserted that his forces operate effectively in the north of the Sea of Oman and east of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking passage for others. He noted that counterparts in the Revolutionary Guard stand firm on the opposite side. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump reiterated his position that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz, ensuring it remains open for navigation under American protection.