Summary

The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday that more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil had transited the Strait of Hormuz in recent months under a US military blockade, Anadolu reports. “CENTCOM forces have supported more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil leaving the Gulf,” Adm. Brad Cooper said in remarks released by the command on US social media platform X. Cooper said US forces have also assisted more than 2,000 commercial vessel transits through the strategic waterway by providing coordinated protection. READ: Iranian body lists 77 vessels for violating Tehran’s Strait of Hormuz protocols He said the primary transit lanes in the strait have been cleared of mines and that thousands of ships have passed through the waterway. At the same time, Cooper said Iran had exported “zero barrels” of oil, attributing the halt to what he called the US “ironclad blockade.” Cooper said the volume of crude oil, cargo, and liquefied natural gas moving through the strait over the past two weeks was higher than at any point during the previous six months. He added that the US is working with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, insurers, and shipping companies to further increase traffic through the waterway, one of the world’s key energy transit routes. READ: Pentagon tells Congress Iran operations have cost $43.6B: Reports