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The United States military said the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial shipping, as American forces have assisted more than 1,000 vessels through the critical waterway over the past three months amid what it described as unwarranted Iranian aggression.
U.S. Central Command made the announcement, saying transits through the international strait continue today and that no commercial vessel seeking passage has been blocked.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, is one of the world's most strategically significant maritime chokepoints.
Roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply passes through the waterway, making its security a matter of acute concern for global energy markets and international shipping interests.
CENTCOM's statement characterized Iranian actions in the region as unwarranted aggression, though it did not detail the specific nature of the incidents.
The assertion comes against a long backdrop of tension between Washington and Tehran over freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf, with Iran having previously seized, harassed, or threatened commercial vessels in and around the strait.
U.S. forces have been actively accompanying and assisting merchant vessels through the passage, with the 1,000-vessel milestone over a three-month period suggesting a sustained and intensive operational tempo. CENTCOM indicated the escort and assistance mission is ongoing.
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