Iran’s military has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States has taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the statement as “lies and fabrications.”
Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said the strategic waterway remains under the “complete management and control” of Iran, adding that commercial ships and tankers require permission from Iranian forces to pass through.
Trump had claimed on Wednesday that the US had “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the American naval blockade as a “wall of steel.”
Iranian officials also said US military and Israeli vessels would not be allowed to pass through the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy route, and the ongoing restrictions have raised concerns over international oil and gas supplies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of making another “miscalculation” over the strategic waterway, amid continuing tensions between the two countries.
