The Hill - The U.S. and Iran are sending conflicting messages over whether the Strait of Hormuz is open following continued strikes by both countries.
Trump claimed Sunday that the strait is open, while U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said traffic was flowing through the waterway. Centcom said U.S. forces are “positioned and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available despite unwarranted Iranian aggression, harassment, threats, and arbitrary declarations.”
“Iran does not control the strait,” Centcom said in a post on the social platform X.
That differs from Iran’s message. It said Saturday it was closing the strait again after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a Cyprus-flagged ship using an “unauthorized route” through the area.
The tanker attack led the U.S. to launch another round of strikes against Iran, the latest sign of the ceasefire agreement falling apart.
Disagreements over the strait sparked the apparent breakdown in negotiations, leading Iran to open fire on multiple ships in the strait and the U.S. to hit more than 100 targets across Iran last week.
U.S. forces launched additional strikes Sunday to undermine Iran’s ability to attack additional shipping, Centcom said.
Peace negotiations haven’t officially been called off, but Trump has called the Iranians “scum” and “liars,” leaving the prospect of future talks in doubt.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, Tehran's top negotiator, warned the U.S. on Sunday to uphold its end of the peace deal or “pay the price.”om/
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