Key facts
- U.S. forces have helped move over 1.5 billion barrels of oil out of the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran war began.
- More than 3,000 commercial vessels have transited the strait with U.S. support in the last six months.
- U.S. forces have cleared sea mines laid by Iran's IRGC from the strait's shipping lanes.
- Oil flows out of the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to exceed pre-war levels, excluding Iranian exports.
- Shipping costs have risen to record highs due to perceived disruptions.
U.S. forces have assisted Persian Gulf producers in moving over 1.5 billion barrels of oil out of the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Iran war, according to Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Cooper stated on Sunday that more than 3,000 commercial vessels have successfully navigated the strait with support from CENTCOM forces in the past six months. The U.S. military reported that its forces have cleared sea mines laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the international shipping lanes. Despite these efforts, threats to shipping persist, with ongoing hostilities and Iranian attacks contributing to record-high shipping costs and elevated crude oil prices.