Iran accuses United States of oil smuggling in Hormuz

Iran's security chief accused the United States of orchestrating covert petroleum smuggling through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.

Iran security chief Mohsen Rezaei alleged that the American administration hired operatives to illicitly move petroleum past the Iranian blockade in the Persian Gulf. Rezaei also stated that Washington provided an inadequate reply to Tehran's conditions for unlocking the critical waterway. The official claimed that Iranian forces intercept these covert fuel transfers on a nightly basis.

• The accusationTehran alleged that United States Central Command and United Arab Emirates military forces cooperated in the covert fuel transfer operations.
• The backgroundMohsen Rezaei asserted that Iran maintains full operational command over the strategic maritime corridor despite foreign denials.

Written before 1 later update from the outlets covering this story.