Cairo, March 15 (NationPress) The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global oil transportation, is currently open and remains under the control of Iran, according to a high-ranking Iranian commander. This statement comes at a time of escalating tensions between Iran and the United States along with its allies.

Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, stated that assertions made by the United States regarding the destruction of Iran's naval forces or the provision of safe escort for oil tankers are untrue, as reported by Xinhua news agency, which cited Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.

"The Strait of Hormuz is not under military blockade; it is simply under our control," the statement emphasized.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, reinforced this sentiment in an interview with U.S. media, indicating that the strait is accessible for international maritime traffic, barring vessels from the United States, Israel, and their allies.

"The Strait of Hormuz is indeed open. It is exclusively closed to the ships belonging to our adversaries who are engaging in hostilities against us and their allies. All others are free to navigate," Araghchi asserted.

As a significant chokepoint for global oil, the Strait of Hormuz facilitates the passage of approximately one-fifth of the world's oil supply. In his inaugural message as Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei affirmed the importance of maintaining influence over this critical waterway.

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump called on nations that are dependent on oil shipments via the strait to take initiative in ensuring its security, with assistance from U.S. forces. This follows America's efforts to mitigate rising oil prices amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, which have prompted retaliatory actions from Iran towards American interests across the region.

In a social media post, Trump stated that countries impacted by potential disruptions in the strait should collaborate with U.S. forces to ensure its security.

“Numerous countries, particularly those impacted by Iran's attempts to obstruct the Strait of Hormuz, will be deploying warships in partnership with the United States to keep the Strait secure and navigable,” he remarked.

The President also claimed that U.S. actions had significantly diminished Iran's military capabilities.

“We have effectively neutralized 100 percent of Iran's military capacity, yet it's still feasible for them to deploy a drone or two, lay a mine, or launch a short-range missile in or around this waterway, irrespective of their perceived defeat,” Trump added.