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  Iran’s military on Thursday rejected US claims that ships were continuing to pass normally through the Strait of Hormuz, insisting that no vessel could safely transit the strategic waterway without permission from Tehran. According to news agency, Ebrahim Zolfghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said the strait remained under Iran’s “full management and control.” He warned that commercial vessels and oil tankers would not be able to secure safe passage without the permission and supervision of Iran’s armed forces. Zolfghari’s remarks came amid growing tensions between Tehran and Washington over the strategically important waterway, through which a significant portion of global oil and energy shipments traditionally passes. The conflicting statements from Iran and the United States have further intensified uncertainty surrounding maritime traffic in the region. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington had the capability to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports for as long as necessary. Speaking to reporters, Hegseth said the US Navy could sustain such an operation indefinitely by rotating ships in and out of the region. His comments came as Washington continued to assert its ability to control maritime activity around Iran. Tehran, however, has strongly disputed those claims and maintained that it retains authority over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have also issued increasingly forceful warnings about a potential future conflict. Brigadier General Rasoul Sanaei-Rad said on Thursday that Iran would respond more aggressively if another war occurred. Sanaei-Rad, who currently serves as a political adviser in the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, said Iran had stood firm during the recent conflict and would be prepared to respond with greater determination in any possible future war. Although he did not directly name the United States, he accused Iran’s “enemy” of attempting to create divisions inside the country through economic pressure. According to the general, those efforts had failed to achieve their intended objective. His comments reflected the increasingly confrontational rhetoric coming from Iranian officials as tensions with Washington remain high. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also criticised US assessments of the conflict, saying Washington had repeatedly miscalculated because of intelligence failures. Referring to the recent war, Araghchi said the United States had made serious errors in assessing the situation and was now making an even bigger mistake regarding the Strait of Hormuz. “Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful,” Araghchi said, warning against what he described as flawed assessments of Iran’s capabilities and intentions. His comments came a day after US President Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that the United States had “total control” over the strategic waterway. Iran has rejected the assertion, with officials continuing to emphasise Tehran’s role in regulating passage through the strait. Iranian officials have also sought to project confidence in the country’s ability to withstand continued pressure. A former Iranian diplomat, Abbas Khameyar, said the United States had failed what he described as a test of economic and military warfare against Iran. Khameyar argued that Tehran would not accept American conditions or surrender to US ambitions. He also claimed that Washington had effectively fallen into a “trap” involving the Strait of Hormuz. The latest statements from both sides underline the deepening confrontation over the waterway. While Washington maintains that it has the military capability to sustain a blockade, Tehran insists that maritime passage remains subject to its authority. With both countries issuing conflicting claims over control and navigation, the Strait of Hormuz has once again emerged as a major flashpoint in the wider regional confrontation.