Iran rejects CENTCOM stance on Strait of Hormuz authority

The Strait of Hormuz does not fall within the area of responsibility of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and is under Iran’s control, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said.

According to Caliber.Az, Gharibabadi made the remarks in a post on X, responding to CENTCOM’s statement following a regional security dialogue held in Bahrain.

هرمز زیر فرمان ایران تعریف می شود نه سنتکام. نشست نظامی در بحرین نمی‌تواند برای خلیج فارس نظم حقوقی و امنیت بسازد. امنیت منطقه با پایان مداخله و خروج آمریکا از منطقه، احترام به حاکمیت کشورها و پذیرش واقعیت‌های جدید ژئوپلیتیک تأمین می‌شود نه زیر چتر نظامی آمریکا. pic.twitter.com/82riYKtyJO

— Gharibabadi (@Gharibabadi) July 2, 2026

“The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran’s command, not CENTCOM. A military meeting in Bahrain cannot establish a legal order or ensure security in the Persian Gulf. Regional security can only be achieved by ending foreign interference, withdrawing U.S. forces from the region, respecting the sovereignty of regional states, and recognising the new geopolitical realities—not under the U.S. military umbrella,” he wrote.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister was responding to CENTCOM’s statement on a regional security dialogue hosted by the Bahrain Defence Force on July 1, which brought together defence officials from 12 Middle Eastern countries.

According to CENTCOM, the meeting included senior military representatives from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Participants discussed the regional security environment and opportunities to enhance defence cooperation, while reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said the discussions highlighted “shared commitment to regional security and stability,” adding that the United States continues to work closely with regional partners.

The command also noted that the United States and its partners operate an integrated air and missile defence network across the Middle East, and that a regional coordination cell was established earlier this year to improve information-sharing and threat response. The Bahrain meeting also marked the first participation of military representatives from Syria and Lebanon in a U.S.-led regional defence forum.

By Vugar Khalilov