US says Strait of Hormuz remains open as it monitors shipping amid Iran closure claims

Mixed messages from the U.S. and Iran on the Strait of Hormuz are injecting further uncertainty into the future of the waterway and global oil supplies. Over the weekend, the Iranian military said that it would close the strait in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon. At the same time, Washington said the waterway was open.  U.S....

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that 55 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on June 20, contradicting statements from Iran’s military command claiming the waterway had been closed. CENTCOM stated that US forces are continuing operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the region. US President Donald Trump stated that the US may impose tolls on vessels transiting the strait if a final diplomatic agreement with Iran is not reached.

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Saturday denied Iran's claims that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway remained open and that U.S. forces were monitoring the situation to ensure that continued."Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz," U.S. Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Reuters. "Traffic continues to flow, and U.S. forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case."

US forces monitoring Strait of Hormuz to ensure it stays open The US military on Saturday denied Iran's claims that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway remained open and that US forces were monitoring the situation to ensure that it continued. "Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Reuters. "Traffic continues to flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut earlier on Saturday and warned ships not to approach the waterway, casting new doubt on the future of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran meant to pave the way for in-depth peace talks. Container vessels and ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on 19 June 2026. (AFP)