US forces monitoring Strait of Hormuz to ensure it stays open

AI Summary

The US military denied Iran's claims of closing the Strait of Hormuz, affirming the waterway remains open and under US monitoring to support continued traffic flow. US Central Command emphasized that Iran does not control the strait, where ship traffic continues despite IRGC warnings.

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)