Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country's principal military command, on Thursday, 2 July issued a sharp warning that any US interference in the Strait of Hormuz will be met with a 'decisive and swift' response from Iranian armed forces. The statement underscores Tehran's hardening posture over one of the world's most strategically vital waterways, through which roughly 20% of global oil trade passes.

Key Warning from Iran's Military Command

In an official statement carried by Iranian state media, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters declared that the Strait of Hormuz is not what it called an 'aggressive US playground', but rather territory under Iran's 'undisputed sovereignty'. The command stressed that the strait's security and stability constitute a red line for the Iranian military.

The headquarters further warned that all oil tankers and commercial vessels transiting the strait must use routes designated by Iran. Any non-compliance, use of alternative routes, or disregard for Iran's navigation protocols, it cautioned, will invite an 'immediate and decisive' response — directly endangering the safety of violating vessels.

Iran's Stand on US Military Presence

The command singled out the continued presence of US manned and unmanned aircraft over the waterway as a source of insecurity, warning that Iran will not hesitate to take necessary actions to 'crush any aggression' by US forces or their supporters. Tehran framed any American attempt to interfere in security affairs or cause disruption in the strait as a direct threat to its national security.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Weighs In

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, reinforced the military's position in a post on social media platform X, stating that the Strait of Hormuz is 'defined under Iran's command, not the US Central Command (CENTCOM).'

His remarks came a day after CENTCOM convened a 'security dialogue' in Bahrain with military officials from 12 countries, which discussed regional security, expanded defence collaboration, and reaffirmed commitment to the free flow of commerce through the strait. Gharibabadi dismissed the Bahrain meeting as incapable of creating 'legal order and security' for the Gulf.

Tehran's Broader Geopolitical Demand

Gharibabadi argued that security in West Asia will only be achieved after the United States ceases its interventions, withdraws from the region, respects national sovereignty, and accepts what he described as 'new geopolitical realities.' This positions Tehran's stance not merely as a tactical military warning but as a broader political demand for a US drawdown from the region.

This is not the first time Iran has issued such warnings — Tehran has periodically threatened to close or restrict the strait during periods of heightened tension with Washington, most recently during the nuclear deal standoffs. With CENTCOM actively deepening multilateral security ties in the Gulf, the latest Iranian statements signal that tensions over the strait are unlikely to ease in the near term.