Headquarters spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari, from Khatam al-Anbiya, rejected statements attributed to the head of US Central Command (Centcom), Admiral Brad Cooper, regarding the alleged transit of US military vessels through the strategic waterway.

  According to Zolfaghari, any decision regarding the passage of ships through the strait rests exclusively with the Iranian authorities.

  Similarly, the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) affirmed that it maintains “full control” of the strait and emphasized that transit is permitted only to non-military vessels, under specific regulations.

  Iranian authorities also warned that any attempt at a military incursion would be met with a “firm and decisive” response.

  Meanwhile, CENTCOM announced the start of demining operations in the area, as part of a mission to ensure the safety of navigation. According to the agency, US destroyers conducted operations in the Persian Gulf as part of these preparations.

  This conflicting information comes amid negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad, mediated by Pakistan, seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

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