WASHINGTON — The U.S. military pushed back Saturday against claims by Iran that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed, asserting that the strategically important waterway is still open and that American forces are keeping a close watch on it.
“Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz,” said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, in a statement to Reuters. “Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case.”
Earlier Saturday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the Strait of Hormuz was closed and issued warnings for ships to stay away from the waterway. The declaration raised fresh concerns about the stability of a ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran — an agreement that had been intended to open the door to broader peace negotiations.
