Iran's IRGC says US Hormuz claims are ‘lies’ to manipulate oil prices

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy on Friday directly challenged Washington's assertions that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened, accusing US officials of spreading "lies" intended to manipulate global oil markets and conceal military failures. The IRGC Navy said in a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB that American claims regarding the waterway's status were "false and misleading," insisting that its own control over the passage remains absolute.

"Statements by American officials regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz are an outright lie, aimed only at manipulating oil prices and covering up their failures," the force said. The IRGC emphasized that the strait will remain closed to all vessels attempting passage without coordination with Iranian authorities until "the evil actions" of the US military conclude and Tehran's conditions are satisfied.

Washington counters with optimism

The US military's Central Command announced Thursday that internationally recognized shipping lanes in the strait are open following American operations to clear sea mines from the waterway. President Donald Trump reinforced that position during remarks at the White House, declaring that international commerce has resumed despite ongoing tensions.

Trump offered a sharply divergent assessment of the situation, insisting that American forces have successfully secured the corridor. "The strait is open. The Strait of Hormuz is open. We have control, and we have the blockade," he said, adding that "millions and millions of barrels of oil are coming out of the strait every day."

Tehran links reopening to pact

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday that Tehran has coordinated with Oman to establish a passage route through the strait, stating that the waterway would reopen fully only if Washington fulfills commitments outlined in the Islamabad Memorandum signed in June. The agreement extended an April ceasefire between the parties and established a framework for gradually restoring shipping to prewar levels once specific conditions are met.

Technical talks between littoral states have continued since the memorandum's signing to manage shipping arrangements, though the IRGC has maintained that unilateral US claims of openness do not reflect operational realities on the water. The force noted that vessels attempting transit without Iranian coordination remain barred from passage.