Fresh confusion surrounds control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route, after sharply contradictory claims from Iranian and US officials.
The waterway handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.
Iran Claims “Complete Control”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Wednesday that it has full control over the strait.
Guards Navy official Mohammad Akbarzadeh stated:
“Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Islamic Republic’s Navy.”
He warned that vessels passing through risk being struck by missiles or drones amid the ongoing conflict.
The strait connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, serving as a key transit point for oil exports from Gulf states.
US Denies Iranian Presence
Just hours earlier, Admiral Brad Cooper of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected Tehran’s claim.
“For decades the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping. Today there is not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Gulf of Oman,” Cooper said.
He added that US forces had destroyed 17 Iranian ships and were “sinking all of the Iranian navy,” though independent verification of those claims was not immediately available.
Possible US Naval Escorts
President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the strait if necessary — a move that would significantly escalate direct naval involvement.
Such escorts were previously used during the 1980s “Tanker War” phase of the Iran-Iraq conflict, when US warships protected Kuwaiti vessels from attacks.
Scale of the Military Campaign
Admiral Cooper also said the first 24 hours of strikes on Iran nearly doubled the number of targets hit during the opening “shock-and-awe” campaign of the Iraq War.
According to US officials:
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Nearly 2,000 targets have been struck inside Iran so far.
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The campaign is among the largest air operations in recent US military history.
Why the Strait Matters
Any sustained disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could:
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Drive oil prices sharply higher
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Disrupt global supply chains
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Trigger broader regional naval clashes
With both sides issuing competing claims about control, the situation remains volatile and difficult to independently verify.