WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) – The U.S. navy on Saturday denied Iran’s claims that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the crucial waterway remained open and that U.S. forces had been monitoring the state of affairs to make sure that continued.
“Iran doesn’t management the Strait of Hormuz,” U.S. Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins instructed Reuters. “Visitors continues to move, and U.S. forces are monitoring the state of affairs to make sure this stays the case.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut earlier on Saturday and warned ships to not strategy the waterway, casting new doubt on the way forward for a ceasefire settlement between the U.S. and Iran meant to pave the best way for in-depth peace talks.