The Navy chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has hit back at claims by the United States that the Strait of Hormuz is open and under Washington’s control, urging the US forces to move closer if they want to realize who controls the strategic waterway.

In his first televised interview aired on Tuesday, Rear Admiral Ali Ozmaei said Iran exercises “smart control” over the Strait of Hormuz and requires vessels seeking to pass through the route to obtain authorization.

“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,” he 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 slammed the US military presence in the region, noting that American forces and their seven fleets had effectively become “fuel smugglers.”

He said the United States’ $13 billion aircraft carrier had been rendered ineffective and was operating like 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,” Ozmaei said.

He said the IRGC Navy controls the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, while the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Navy oversees the Sea of Oman.

He added that a blockade was continuing beyond the Sea of Oman, in the Arabian Sea, where the Army Navy was also monitoring developments.

Explaining Iran’s approach to maritime control, Ozmaei said vessels intending to transit the Strait must obtain permission from Iranian forces. Ships traveling to or from Iran are granted authorization according to the prevailing conditions to use the Iranian waterway.

He said Iranian forces had taken firm action against vessels violating maritime restrictions, slamming the United States and its partners for 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 deal firmly with violations.

Iran’s Navy deploys new units near Hormuz, warns ships against unauthorized transit

The Iranian Army’s Navy says it has deployed operational units in a new formation east of the Strait of Hormuz and across the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The commander said regional security could be maintained without a US military presence, and that cooperation among neighboring countries could safeguard the region’s economic, political and military security.

“We can establish security in the region in cooperation with our neighbors, and we do not need the Americans.”

“If we work together, security can be ensured in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.”

Ozmaei said the IRGC Navy personnel and their counterparts in the Iranian Army’s Navy remained firmly positioned in the strategically important waters and would respond decisively to any adversary seeking to impose its will by force.

He also said 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.”

Ozmaei said Iran’s defense capabilities have been modernized, tactics revised and weaknesses identified, adding that Iranian fighters are better prepared than they had been before.