Iran’s military claimed Friday it maintains full control over the Strait of Hormuz, even as ships make their way through the waterway.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said forces blocked three ships seeking to make their way through the channel, and its navy alleged the strait is “closed.” The military said President Donald Trump made “false statements” that the channel is open, and claimed that any movement through it will receive a “harsh response,” according to Fars News Agency, an Iranian state media outlet.
“This morning, following the false statements of the corrupt U.S. president claiming that the Strait of Hormuz is open, three container ships of different nationalities moved toward the designated corridor for authorized vessel traffic, but were turned back after warnings from the IRGC Navy,” the Guard’s statement read.
Iran blocked two Chinese-flagged ships, as well as a Marshall Islands-flagged ship, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
However, a series of vessels have made their way through the Strait of Hormuz in recent days. At least two Indian tankers have made it safely through the strait this week, according to Indian media and other outlets, and the country’s navy is preparing to escort more through. A Thai oil tanker safely passed through the strait. At least two Chinese-owned liquefied petroleum gas carriers have also reportedly transited through the strait, according to the Guardian.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Iran is permitting passage to “friendly nations.”
“We permitted passage through the Strait of Hormuz for friendly nations including China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan,” Araghchi said in an interview with the Iran News Network.
Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, said on Thursday that the country’s ships stranded in the Persian Gulf are now being allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after talks with Iran.
Trump said this week that Iran had allowed 10 ships through the waterway, including eight that were Pakistani-flagged. He framed the tankers let through as a “gift” to the U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was expected to press allies on Friday to step up and secure the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian influence, as he meets with the Group of Seven foreign ministers in France. The G7 coalition is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, and the U.S.
“Very little of our [U.S.] energy comes from the Strait of Hormuz,” Rubio said. “It’s the world that has a great interest in that, so they should step up and deal with it.”
TRUMP SAYS IRAN LET EIGHT OIL TANKERS THROUGH STRAIT OF HORMUZ
“I’m not there to make them happy,” he added in remarks to reporters shortly before leaving the U.S. for the trip on Thursday. “I get along with all of them on a personal level, and we work with those governments very carefully, but the people I’m interested in making happy are the people of the United States.”
The U.S. has been said to have engaged in negotiations with Iran all week, looking to end the war. The White House expects to receive Iran’s response to the U.S.’s 15-point framework for a peace deal on Friday, according to CBS News. Iran previously countered with five counterconditions.
The plan was presented to Iran by Pakistan as a third-party intermediary, special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday.