Iran’s military denies US claim of vessels transit in Strait of Hormuz

“The permission for the transit of any vessel (in the strategic waterway) is within the authority of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said in a statement released on Sunday.

The spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has roundly dismissed the US Central Command (CENTCOM) claims about the passage of American military vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The permission for the transit of any vessel (in the strategic waterway) is within the authority of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said in a statement released on Sunday.

Separately, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced that any attempt by military vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz will face a harsh confrontation.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)
The force said in a statement that the IRGC has full authority, intelligently manages the Strait of Hormuz, and only civilian vessels will be permitted to pass under special regulations.

The statement further highlighted that any reports regarding the passage of American ships through the Strait are denied, and any attempt by military vessels to pass will be met with complete decisiveness and hard response.

On Saturday, CENTCOM claimed that two destroyers, the USS Frank E Peterson and USS Michael Murphy, had “transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the [Persian] Gulf as part of a broader mission to ensure the strait is fully clear of sea mines.”

“Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage, and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” US Admiral Brad Cooper claimed in a statement.