U.S. military says ‘traffic is flowing’ in Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military has refuted claims by Iran that the Strait of Hormuz has been closed, asserting that maritime traffic continues to flow. This follows heightened tensions and military strikes in the West Asia region.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global oil transit point, and any disruption there has immediate and severe implications for global energy markets and international security.
The U.S. military insisted on Sunday (July 12, 2026) that ships are moving through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s claim to have closed it in the latest flare-up of the war in West Asia.
“Iran does not control the strait. Traffic is flowing,” United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. forces in West Asia, said on X.
In a later post, CENTCOM directly mentioned and challenged an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps statement that the vital conduit for global oil flow was closing.
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But the U.S. military said the strait “remains an international waterway. U.S. forces are positioned and prepared to keep it that way.”
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