New Delhi, July 12 -- Iran has reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to maritime traffic, directly contradicting the US Central Command's (CENTCOM) assertion that shipping is moving normally through the strategic waterway.

The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in the war of words between Tehran and Washington over one of the world's most critical oil transit routes.

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), Iran's official maritime body responsible for regulating transit through the Strait of Hormuz, said the passage has been closed because of what it described as the "recent illegal movements" of US military forces in the region.

The authority said vessels would only be allowed to pass with a transit permit issued...