Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, has reaffirmed Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Iranian military and naval forces maintain comprehensive oversight of the strategic waterway and surrounding maritime areas.

Abdollahi said Iran’s army and naval forces have “complete control and oversight” of the coasts of the Persian Gulf, its islands and the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Rejecting statements by US leaders about the strategic waterway, the Iranian military official dismissed them as “propaganda” and reiterated Tehran’s authority over maritime traffic in the region.

“This strategic waterway is completely closed,” Abdollahi said, adding that no vessel would be permitted to transit the strait outside Iranian regulations.

His remarks underscore Iran’s determination to assert its authority over one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, through which a substantial share of global oil shipments normally passes.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea, making it a critical corridor for international energy supplies. Developments affecting navigation through the waterway have significant implications for regional security, global energy markets and international shipping.

Tehran has repeatedly emphasized the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf and its surrounding waters, maintaining that security arrangements in the region must take account of Iran’s national interests and its role as a major regional power.

Abdollahi’s statement comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States over maritime security and control of the strategic waterway. His comments signal that Tehran intends to enforce its stated regulations on vessels seeking to pass through the strait. (ILKHA)