U.S. Central Command confirmed Friday that the southern navigation lane of the Strait of Hormuz remains open and safe for all commercial vessels.
Maintaining the flow of traffic through this narrow waterway is critical for global energy security and international trade. Any disruption to the strait could lead to immediate spikes in oil prices and delays in global supply chains.
CENTCOM issued the statement to counter claims from the Iranian government that the strait had been closed. The command said the strategic waterway remains open to commercial navigation. A spokesperson for CENTCOM said, "The southern route in the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial ships."
U.S. officials said that the passage between Iran and Oman is available to any vessel wishing to traverse the international waterway. The command said that the southern route continues to be a viable path for maritime traffic despite regional tensions.
According to reports, more than 1,000 commercial vessels have safely transited the southern route in the past three months [1]. Other records indicate that over 1,000 ships have passed safely under U.S. protection [2].
CENTCOM denied the Iranian government's assertions regarding the closure of the strait. The command said the waterway is open and available for those seeking to use the international corridor. This confirmation serves as a reassurance to the international shipping community that commercial traffic can continue without interference.
“The southern route in the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial ships.”
The U.S. effort to publicly verify the openness of the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic move to prevent market panic and discourage Iranian efforts to leverage the waterway as a political tool. By citing specific numbers of successful transits, the U.S. aims to maintain the confidence of global shipping companies and insurance underwriters who determine the cost of transporting goods through high-risk zones.
