According to Tehran, the continued presence of US naval forces and what it termed a blockade remain the major obstacles to restoring normal commercial shipping through the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It serves as the main export route for crude oil and liquefied natural gas from major producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran. Tehran maintained that the removal of the US naval presence it considers a blockade remains a prerequisite for the complete reopening of the waterway. The United States has consistently maintained that its naval deployment in the Gulf is intended to safeguard freedom of navigation, protect international shipping and ensure the security of maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz.