CENTCOM: Iran Does Not Control the Strait of Hormuz; Over 800 Vessels, 380 Million Barrels Facilitated Since May

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday, July 9, 2026, that "Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz," rebutting Iranian state media claims that transit through the strait is only permitted via routes designated by Tehran. CENTCOM said U.S. forces have helped facilitate the successful transit of more than 800 commercial vessels carrying approximately 380 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway since early May 2026. The statement came amid heightened tensions following Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the strait and a sharp drop in shipping traffic through the waterway in recent days.