CENTCOM Claims It Has Escorted 1,000 Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has claimed it has assisted more than 1,000 commercial ships in transiting the Strait of Hormuz. “The southern route through the Strait of Hormuz remains free and open to all commercial vessels wishing to transit this international waterway. Over the past three months, US forces have assisted over 1,000 ships in successfully transiting the strait despite unprovoked aggression from Iran; and these transits continue to this day,” CENTCOM wrote on platform X. Previously, on 18 June, Iran and the US had actually signed a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict that began on 28 February. However, on 8 July, US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire was no longer in effect. Since then, US forces have launched a number of waves of attacks against Iran. CENTCOM stated the attacks were a response to Iran’s actions against commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces then retaliated by launching attacks on US bases in the Middle East. Subsequently, on 12 July, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until the end of US interference in the region. The closure was implemented following the latest wave of retaliatory strikes between the parties involved in the conflict. Trump then declared the United States would be the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also re-imposed a US blockade on Iranian ports.