ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday said no vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past few hours, dubbing American claims that two ships had successfully passed the waterway “baseless and completely false.”

“No commercial vessel or oil tanker has passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past few hours, and the claims of American officials are baseless and completely false,” the semi-official Fars News agency reported, citing the IRGC media office.

The statement comes shortly after US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that two US-flagged merchant vessels had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz and “safely headed on their journey,” as its forces “are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping.”

The Iranian forces added that any maritime navigation contrary to Tehran’s regulations “will face serious risk,” and “violating vessels will be stopped by force.”

Monday saw a notable rise of tension at the strategic waterway, with Iranian armed forces claiming they struck an American navy patrol boat that attempted to pass through the strait, and the US denied the reports.

Shortly after, Iran’s Navy fired warning shots in the direction of American destroyers in the waterway, after they allegedly ignored Iranian radio warnings that approaching the waterway violates the ceasefire.

Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway where roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil is shipped, as a means in its war against the US and Israel. In response, the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The maritime restrictions largely continue despite a recently-extended ceasefire in place.

The Iranian army’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that “any foreign armed force, especially the US military, will be targeted” if it attempts to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have stalled since a ceasefire took hold in early April, with no clear timeline for when face to-face talks might resume.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said he does not believe Tehran’s latest peace proposal would be acceptable, leaving the possibility of renewed military action against Iran open.

Iran's foreign ministry said on Sunday that the US has responded to Tehran's proposal through Pakistani mediators, adding that the reply is currently under review.