New Delhi: The Strait of Hormuz has become a major point of disagreement between Iran and the United States as efforts to restart negotiations remain stalled.
While Qatar and other mediators continue efforts to bring both sides back to talks, Iran and the US have traded conflicting claims over control of the key waterway.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday said enemies had been pushed out of West Asia and were no longer able to move freely near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media, as reported by AFP.
Khamenei praised Iranian fighters and said the country’s forces had prevented enemy forces from approaching the strategic strait. “Today, having suffered painful blows at the hands of valiant fighters and the guardians of the Strait of Hormuz, they (the enemies) do not venture beyond the Arabian Sea,” he said in a written statement carried by state broadcaster.
He added that whenever the enemies had taken the risk of coming closer, “they have only brought harm upon themselves”.
Iran claims full control of Hormuz
Khamenei’s remarks came after Iranian Army Chief of Staff and Deputy Coordinator Habibollah Sayyari claimed that naval forces under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had full control over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, according to Anadolu Agency.
The US military rejected the claim. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X that Iran does not have operational control over the strategic waterway.
“CLAIM: A senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander said today that Iran has full control over the Strait of Hormuz through Iran’s navy. This is FALSE,” CENTCOM said.
“FACT: Iran has no navy because American forces sank it. And Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz as evidenced by the thousands of ships that have passed through freely along with more than 1 billion barrels of oil just over the past few months,” it added.
Araghchi meets mediators in New York
The dispute comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is meeting mediators in New York over Tehran’s proposal linked to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian news agency ISNA said Araghchi and his delegation would discuss the latest proposals and the current situation. No US representative was expected to attend the meeting.
Iran has proposed reopening the waterway within seven days if Washington meets conditions including ending the naval blockade, easing oil sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets. US President Donald Trump has rejected the proposal, while mediators continue efforts to revive indirect negotiations.
