The Central Command of the US Armed Forces (CENTCOM) announced on July 12 that US forces are prepared to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s announcement of its closure.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, CENTCOM emphasized: “The Strait of Hormuz is open to all vessels seeking to legally pass through the international waterway.” The command further clarified that US forces remain on standby to guarantee safe movement despite Iranian assertions and confirmed traffic in the strait continues at a brisk pace.
Escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran have placed fragile diplomatic agreements at breaking point due to Israel’s recent strong stance. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported on July 12 that its decision to close the strait followed an incident on July 8 involving a vessel attempting to sail an unauthorized route while ignoring warnings, which resulted in it being attacked and stopped.
Tehran accused the United States of violating the joint memorandum after US military launched a series of powerful strikes against the Islamic Republic on July 8. Since then, renewed exchanges of attacks have led to the Strait of Hormuz being almost entirely blocked again.
