The United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet has stressed that any disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz will “not be tolerated.”

The Bahrain-based fleet said in an e-mail on Wednesday that anyone threatening to disturb freedom of navigation in an international strait is "clearly outside the community of nations.”

The fleet’s comment came after Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if sanctions are placed on its crude exports. The strait is considered to be a key route to transport oil.

Iran’s navy is currently conducting a training exercise in the eastern part of the strait. Iranian Navy Admiral Habibollah Sayari said earlier Wednesday that Iran would find it "really easy" to close the Strait of Hormuz but would not do so right now.