The U.S. military says the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz remains "open"

On July 12, Xinhua News Agency reported from London (Reporter Gao Wencheng) that the U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center issued a statement on the 12th, stating that despite Iran's claim that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, the southern channel near Oman remains open and is now accessible for two-way traffic.

The statement was released by the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office on the same day. It cited the U.S. Central Command's position, stating: "Despite Iran's claim that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, the U.S. military remains prepared to uphold freedom of navigation and ensure the safety of legitimate commercial activities; the southern channel of the Strait of Hormuz remains open."

The statement indicated that the maritime security threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains at "serious."

After the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, the traditional channel navigation system in the Strait of Hormuz was rendered unfeasible due to the threat of mines. Following the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding, two navigation channels were established in the Strait: the northern channel controlled by Iran and the southern channel near Oman, with the U.S. military providing navigation assistance in the southern channel.

Data from several maritime information platforms indicate that following multiple incidents of vessel attacks near the southern channel, traffic through the Strait has sharply declined, primarily concentrated in the northern channel, with only a few vessels passing through the southern channel.

Recently, the U.S. military has launched multiple rounds of military strikes against Iran, citing responses to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced early on the 12th that the Strait of Hormuz is closed effective immediately until further notice and until the U.S. ceases its interference in the region.