The US military confirmed on Thursday, 11 June that commercial shipping continues to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz despite an ongoing American blockade of Iran, even as President Donald Trump threatened fresh strikes against Tehran and signalled potential US control over key Iranian oil infrastructure. The statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM) came hours after Trump issued a stark warning on social media, raising fears of a sharp escalation in the Gulf.

Trump's Warning and Oil Infrastructure Threat

In a post on social media, President Trump stated: 'The United States will be hitting Iran (whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti-Aircraft, and all other forms of Defence, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT.'

Trump also indicated territorial ambitions over Iranian energy assets, saying: 'At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America.'

The remarks represent a significant escalation in rhetoric, with the US president explicitly naming a specific Iranian oil facility — Kharg Island, through which a large share of Iran's crude exports pass.

Third Tanker Disabled This Week

CENTCOM announced that American forces had disabled a third commercial tanker this week for allegedly violating the blockade against Iran. The Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel M/T Jalveer was disabled late Wednesday after it reportedly attempted to transport Iranian oil through the Gulf of Oman. According to the command, a US aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the vessel's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with instructions from US forces.

Earlier this week, CENTCOM carried out similar operations against two Palau-flagged vessels — M/T Marivex, which allegedly attempted to sail to an Iranian port, and M/T Settebello, which was reportedly transporting Iranian oil.

CENTCOM's Blockade Tally

Since the blockade operation began on 13 April, CENTCOM said US forces have disabled nine non-compliant vessels, redirected 135 ships that complied with instructions, and allowed 42 humanitarian aid vessels to proceed unimpeded. The command stated the blockade is being 'enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.'

Safe Pathways and Hormuz Sovereignty Dispute

In a graphic released on Thursday, CENTCOM said 'safe pathways' have been established for commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and are available to all ships not violating the blockade. The military noted that 'hundreds of ships' have passed through the strait over the past two months and that US forces remain positioned to defend vessels against what it described as Iranian aggression.

CENTCOM directly challenged Tehran's longstanding sovereignty claims over the waterway, stating unequivocally that 'Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz.' The strait is one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, with a significant share of globally traded crude oil and liquefied natural gas transiting the narrow passage linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

What Comes Next

The combination of active tanker interdictions, Trump's threat of imminent strikes, and explicit references to seizing Kharg Island marks a new intensity in the US-Iran standoff. Energy markets and international shipping companies are watching closely, as any sustained disruption to the Strait of Hormuz could reverberate across global oil supply chains — including India, which is among the largest importers of Gulf crude.