WASHINGTON: The United States has reaffirmed that the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international commercial shipping, despite continuing tensions with Iran and concerns over maritime security in the Gulf.
In a statement posted on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strategic waterway continues to be accessible to all commercial vessels seeking to transit the international shipping route.
The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open for all commercial vessels seeking to transit the international waterway. Over the past three months, U.S. forces have assisted more than 1,000 vessels in successfully transiting the strait despite unwarranted… pic.twitter.com/TcszH0GimG
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) August 4, 2026
“The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open for all commercial vessels seeking to transit the international waterway,” CENTCOM said.
The command added that US forces have assisted more than 1,000 commercial vessels in safely passing through the strait during the past three months.
According to the statement, these operations have continued despite what CENTCOM described as “unwarranted Iranian aggression”.
CENTCOM further said that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is continuing without interruption, underlining the US military’s commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors.
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital gateway for global energy supplies, linking the Gulf with international markets.
A significant proportion of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports pass through the narrow waterway, making its security a matter of international economic importance.
The latest statement comes amid persistent tensions between Washington and Tehran, with maritime security in the Gulf remaining under close international scrutiny.
While the United States has repeatedly pledged to safeguard commercial navigation in the region, Iran has consistently rejected allegations that it threatens international shipping.
