US military claims Strait of Hormuz remains open amid ongoing blockade

The comments from a US CENTCOM spokesperson come amid heightened tensions over shipping through the vital waterway.Despite an ongoing blockade on Iranian maritime trade and attacks by Iran’s military on commercial ships, the United States military has said US forces have kept the Strait of Hormuz open to commercial shipping, including the facilitation of hundreds of millions of barrels of oil through the strategic waterway.On Wednesday, US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command (CENTCOM), said traffic through the strait “continues to flow” while rejecting the suggestion that Iran controls the waterway.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3China does not need to replace the US in the Gulflist 2 of 3Attacks on Saudi oil expose Iraqi PM’s struggle to control armed factionslist 3 of 3Iran war has cost the US $38bn: How will it impact US economy, politics?end of listThe US and Iran have continued to make competing claims about who has greater control of the critical Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.“Since early May, we have assisted commercial vessels moving more than 900 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz to the global energy market,” Hawkins told Al Jazeera English’s Tom McRae.The CENTCOM spokesperson said US forces were carrying out two simultaneous missions: facilitating commercial traffic while enforcing what he described as a highly effective blockade.“We have redirected more than 100 ships that were trying to violate the blockade,” Hawkins said.Hawkins added that US forces had completed clearing mines from internationally recognised primary shipping lanes in the strait several weeks ago.“We remain vigilant. We remain present and watchful to ensure those lanes stay clear,” he said.“The strait is open. Those lanes are open. And that is why commercial vessels continue to flow through them.”CENTCOM’s comments come amid continued tensions over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.