Iran's principal military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, on Thursday, 13 August declared that no commercial vessel or tanker can safely navigate the Strait of Hormuz without explicit permission from the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to state media reports. The statement marks a direct escalation in the standoff with the United States over control of one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.

What Iran's Military Command Said

The headquarters' spokesman, speaking through Iran's state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), flatly rejected Washington's claims that shipping was moving through the strait unimpeded. 'The false American claims that ships are passing through the Strait of Hormuz normally are nothing more than lies and falsehoods,' the spokesman said.

He added: 'It is announced that the Strait of Hormuz, as in the past, is under the complete management and control of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and no commercial ship or tanker will be able to safely transit through this strait without the permission and supervision of the powerful Iranian armed forces.'

Iran's Foreign Minister Weighs In

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Aragchi sharpened the rhetoric further with a post on X, accusing Washington of serial miscalculation. 'The US has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures. Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz. Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful,' Aragchi wrote.

Trump's 'Wall of Steel' Claim

The Iranian declarations came a day after US President Donald Trump asserted on Wednesday that the United States holds 'total control' over the Strait of Hormuz. 'The USA has total control over the Strait of Hormuz. I think we will keep it!' Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump described the American naval presence in sweeping terms, calling it a 'wall of steel' and insisting Iran was powerless to challenge it. 'Our Naval Blockade is being called, by everyone, "a wall of steel," and there is nothing Iran can do about it,' he said. Notably, the President did not provide operational details of the blockade, nor did he specify how long the US intended to maintain its position or what conditions could bring the standoff to a close.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is the world's single most important oil transit chokepoint, with roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids — and a significant share of liquefied natural gas — passing through it daily, according to energy analysts. Any sustained disruption would ripple through global energy markets, affecting crude prices and supply chains from Asia to Europe.

This is not the first time Tehran has threatened to close or restrict the strait; Iran has periodically invoked the threat during periods of maximum pressure from the West. However, the directness and specificity of Thursday's military statement, combined with the foreign minister's public warning, suggest the current standoff has entered a more acute phase.

What Comes Next

Neither side has indicated a willingness to de-escalate. With no stated conditions for ending the US naval blockade and Iran publicly asserting sovereign authority over the waterway, the risk of a miscalculation — at sea or in diplomatic channels — remains elevated. Global energy markets and regional shipping operators are closely monitoring the situation for any operational disruption.