“Today, the Americans claim that the Strait of Hormuz is open and they control it, but this claim is far away from the realities on the ground,” Ozmaei said.
“If they want to know whether the Strait of Hormuz is open or closed, they should step into the field and see who is in control of it.”
The IRGC Navy commander also criticized the US military presence in the region, saying American forces and their seven fleets had effectively become “fuel smugglers.”
He described the United States’ $13 billion aircraft carrier as ineffective, comparing it to a runway positioned 700 to 800 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz.
“The carrier is vulnerable and does not dare approach the strait and come within range of our fighters,” he said.
Ozmaei stated that the IRGC Navy oversees the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, while the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Navy is responsible for the Sea of Oman.
He added that a blockade was continuing beyond the Sea of Oman into the Arabian Sea, where the Army Navy was also monitoring developments.
Explaining Iran’s maritime control measures, Ozmaei said vessels intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz must obtain permission from Iranian forces. Ships traveling to or from Iran are authorized to use the waterway according to prevailing conditions.
He said Iranian forces had taken firm action against vessels violating maritime restrictions, accusing the United States and its partners of maintaining a media blackout to prevent the international public from learning about the measures taken against those ships.
“We had to release footage of one or two of these vessels in recent days to show the extent of the humiliation the United States has suffered,” he said, adding that Iran would continue to respond firmly to violations.
The commander also argued that regional security could be maintained without a US military presence, emphasizing cooperation among neighboring countries as a means of safeguarding the region’s economic, political and military interests.
“We can establish security in the region in cooperation with our neighbors, and we do not need the Americans,” he said.
“If we work together, security can be ensured in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.”
Ozmaei further questioned the continued US military presence in West Asia, arguing that Washington’s actions contradicted its claims of having no need for the Strait of Hormuz or the region’s oil resources.
He said IRGC Navy personnel and their counterparts in the Iranian Army Navy remained firmly positioned in the strategically important waters and would respond decisively to any adversary seeking to impose its will by force.
The commander added that Iranian forces were waiting for a US warship to enter the Persian Gulf rather than remain near or outside the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are waiting for one of the American warships to come into the Persian Gulf, not merely remain at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz or outside it,” he said.
Ozmaei also said Iran had modernized its defense capabilities, revised its military tactics and identified its weaknesses, adding that Iranian fighters were better prepared than they had been previously.
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