US operations in and near the Strait of Hormuz will continue despite Iran�s recent threat to close the strategic strait in response to US-led maritime drills in the region, Department of Defense spokesperson Peter Cook said during a press briefing on Thursday.

NEW YORK (Sputnik)�� On Wednesday, deputy commander of�Iran�s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps warned that Tehran may close the Strait of�Hormuz if the United States continues "threatening" passages through�the strategic waterway.

"We will continue to�fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and any effort to�cut down, to�somehow shut down�a waterway of�critical importance to�the global economy is something that we would treat with�a great degree of�concern," Cook stated.

The spokesperson noted that the United States has its forces present there to�ensure "the free flow of�commerce" as�well as�that "American interests are maintained."

On April 4-26, the largest maritime drills led by�the US Naval Forces Central Command�� the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise�� took place at�the world�s major maritime choke points, including the Suez Canal, the Strait of�Bab Al-Mandeb and the Strait of�Hormuz. More than�30 nations from�six continents have been involved in�the drills.

The Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the exercise on�Monday, demanding an explanation from�the United States as�to its decision to�choose the region for�the drills.

The Strait of�Hormuz accounts for�almost one-third of�the world's oil trade sea passages.

By Sputnik News