Fact Check: Have US forces abandoned Strait of Hormuz and moved hundreds of kilometers away?
TEHRAN, IRAN: A claim about US military forces abandoning the Strait of Hormuz has sparked questions about the security of the vital shipping route.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy commander alleged that US forces had withdrawn and moved hundreds of kilometers away. But is the claim true? Let’s fact-check.
Claim: US military abandoned Strait of Hormuz and moved several kilometers away
Several news outlets have reported the claim that US forces abandoned the Strait of Hormuz and moved hundreds of kilometers away.
One outlet published a headline stating, “US forces deployed 600-700 km away from Strait of Hormuz.”
IRGC Navy commander Ozamayi claimed that US forces had left the Persian Gulf and moved 600 to 700 kilometers away from the Strait of Hormuz. “Today, the Americans are not present in the Persian Gulf.
They have moved 600 to 700 kilometers away from the Strait of Hormuz, and their vessels are no longer seen in the area,” Ozamayi said. He added, “The United States no longer has a place in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Ozamayi made these remarks hours after President Donald Trump accused Iran of trying to drive up oil prices ahead of the US midterm elections.
Trump alleged that Iran was spreading what he called “fake news” about mine explosions and attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also claimed that oil shipments through the strait had exceeded pre-war levels. He argued that Iran was using various measures to push oil prices higher.
Fact Check: The claim is false
The claim is false. US CENTCOM reported on X, “U.S. forces deployed to the Middle East remain present and vigilant in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, as demonstrated by the CENTCOM commander this weekend. U.S. forces and regional partners control the international waterway — clearly not Iran.”
On October 25, 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Adm. Brad Cooper flew over the Strait of Hormuz in a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter. During the visit, he observed commercial shipping activity and met with US service members involved in operations in the area.
He also reaffirmed the US commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation through the waterway.
🚫 CLAIM: The navy commander for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps recently claimed that U.S. forces have abandoned the Strait of Hormuz by moving hundreds of "kilometers" away. This is FALSE. ✅ FACT: U.S. forces deployed to the Middle East remain present and vigilant in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, as demonstrated by the CENTCOM commander this weekend. U.S. forces and regional partners control the international waterway — clearly not Iran.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 27, 2026
CENTCOM has reported continued support for commercial shipping in the region. More than 3,000 vessels transited the area with US assistance over the previous six months.
Gulf partners have also exported more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil with US support since the summer of 2026. Following clearance operations, authorities described the main shipping routes as free of Iranian sea mines.
US forces and regional partners continue to operate in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider CENTCOM area of responsibility.
Maintaining a military presence does not require large warships or an aircraft carrier strike group to remain inside the narrowest part of the strait at all times.
US forces can also monitor the area and support shipping through aircraft, smaller vessels, regional partners, and their ability to respond to threats.
Satellite images showing individual US ships operating farther away, such as in the northern Arabian Sea, do not prove that the United States has abandoned the international waterway.
The Iranian commander's statement overlooks documented US activity, Adm. Cooper's visit to the strait, and continued efforts to support commercial shipping and oil exports.
