US Central Command, CENTCOM, accused Iran on Wednesday of being the only country attacking civilian seafarers as they pass through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that US forces and their regional partners continued to protect commercial shipping amid rising security risks in the region.
CENTCOM rejects Iranian accusations against US forces
In a post on its account on the X platform, the command rejected accusations by Iran’s ambassador to the International Maritime Organisation that US forces were using “threatening, abusive and provocative language” towards Iranian seafarers, describing the accusations as untrue. CENTCOM said the US blockade imposed on Iran had been in place for months and that communications concerning it were conducted professionally.
It added: “Iran is the only country that attacks civilian seafarers while they are transiting territorial waters.” The command said: “Despite these unjustified attacks, commercial shipping continues through the Strait of Hormuz under coordinated protection from US forces and regional partners.” It said it had helped transport more than 19 million barrels of crude oil through the strait on Monday alone.
Container ship sinks as tensions rise in Hormuz
The US position came as tensions escalated in the Strait of Hormuz after the public relations department of the naval forces affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on Wednesday that a container ship had sunk after, it said, striking a naval mine while attempting to cross the strait along a route it described as “unauthorised”. The maritime developments coincided with renewed US threats against Tehran.
Speaking at a rally held on Tuesday in Wasilla, Alaska, US President Donald Trump said: “Wait and see what we do to Iran; we will deliver it a powerful blow.”
Separately, US and Israeli sources said Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had discussed the possibility of launching a major new military operation against Iran before the Israeli elections and the US midterm elections, amid Israeli concerns about Iranian moves to rebuild its nuclear capabilities.
