US Central Command rejected reports claiming that Iranian-linked tankers have been successfully evading its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

IntelliNews Berlin bureau previously reported that the Trump administration's naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz failed after at least 34 tankers with links to Iran passed through the narrow waterway and exited the Persian Gulf in defiance of the US warships' attempts to halt Iran’s oil exports.

On April 22, Iranian media released videos of Iranian IRGC forces entering two ships in the Strait of Hormuz as part of its ongoing push to control the narrow waterway, in a video released to IntelliNews. 

"These reports are inaccurate," CENTCOM said in a press statement in a direct response to British and German media reports. 

“Hero II and Hedy did not sail past the blockade as part of a flotilla that 'ferried' millions of barrels of oil to the market,” the statement read, referring to two vessels mentioned in media reports.

“ In fact, the Iranian-flagged tankers are anchored in Chah Bahar, Iran, after being intercepted by US forces earlier this week. Dorena has been under the escort of a US Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after previously attempting to violate the blockade,” the statement continued.

A subsequent CENTCOM press statement released on the morning of April 23 revised the total number of vessels directed to turn around to 31, the majority of them oil tankers. The command stated that no ships have been allowed in or out of Iranian ports since the blockade was imposed.

With the two-week US-Iran ceasefire reaching its deadline, US President Donald Trump announced an extension until such time as a unified Iranian leadership could respond to the proposal, leaving in place the American blockade.

The US denial comes as Iranian officials have admitted to local media that Central Bank of Iran (CBI) is now receiving direct payments for ships to use the waterway.

Parliament Vice Speaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei admitted during a public gathering outside of Tehran, IntelliNews previously reported on April 23. 

Iran was reportedly charging up to about $2mn per tanker for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with some reports also describing a per-barrel fee of around $1 for oil cargoes. 

The official said Iran had "successfully forced" the enemy to retreat and that the country was now in a position of dominance over the strait. "We have sovereignty over this strait, and the first revenue from Hormuz Strait tolls has been deposited into the Central Bank account," he said.