More than 1 billion barrels of oil flowed through the Strait of Hormuz in recent months, proving Iran lacks control of the waterway, US Central Command stated. CENTCOM refuted claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Admiral Siari that Tehran maintains full control of the strait, asserting that the Iranian navy no longer exists because American forces sank its vessels. The rebuttal counters recent statements from Iranian officials who claim the army and IRGC navy control the eastern and western sectors of the waterway respectively.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei recently described Iran as the world's top power and claimed 30 million citizens are ready for self-sacrifice, with a 500,000 person mobilization capacity filled in 100 minutes. To secure the waterway, the Persian Gulf Waterways Management Authority began adding charterers to a Non-Compliance List for forcing ships through illegal routes, prompting some vessel owners to send apology letters to Tehran. Army Chief General Hatami warned that if Iran's own commerce is blocked, no other nation will be able to trade.