Iran Claims Full Control and Closure of Strait of Hormuz
ARK News.. Iran has denied U.S. claims that Washington effectively controls most of the waterway of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the American statements as inaccurate.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday, August 29, 2026, that it has full control over the Strait of Hormuz and that the waterway is closed to vessels that do not coordinate with Tehran. The IRGC described U.S. statements regarding freedom of navigation in the strait as “inaccurate.”
Meanwhile, U.S. officials were quoted as saying that Washington effectively controls most of the waterway. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Brad Cooper confirmed that naval mines deployed in international waters had been cleared.
The developments come as Tehran faces mounting economic pressure. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that the country’s exports and imports have declined by 35% as a result of sanctions and the blockade.
Iranian Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei, meanwhile, stressed the need to rely on domestic production and adopt financial austerity measures to cope with the economic pressure.
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