Key facts
- US Central Command reported that shipping volumes through the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest level in six months.
- Over one billion barrels of oil have been transported through the strait in the last two months, with protection for over 2,000 commercial vessels.
- US forces have cleared mines from the primary transit lanes in the strait.
- US forces destroyed 10 Iranian tankers in the past week in response to Iranian attempts to strike Navy ships.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that just under 11 million barrels of oil daily are transiting the Strait of Hormuz on a seven-day average.
- Iran claims it remains in control of the strait and it is closed except to pre-approved vessels.
Shipping volumes through the Strait of Hormuz have reached their highest level in six months, according to statements from US military officials. US Central Command (Centcom) reported that over one billion barrels of oil and cargo have been transported through the strategic waterway in the past two months, with US forces protecting more than 2,000 commercial vessels.
Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated that US forces have also worked to clear mines from the transit lanes and are enhancing regional air defenses. He noted that the primary transit lanes have been successfully cleared of mines.
However, competing claims exist regarding control of the strait. While the US asserts it is open and facilitating significant traffic, Iran maintains it remains in control and is closed except for pre-approved vessels. US President Donald Trump claimed the US Navy was assisting approximately 30 ships nightly, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that at least 10 million barrels of oil were getting through daily. This figure is up from previous estimates but remains below pre-war averages.
In recent actions, US forces destroyed 10 Iranian tankers in the past week in response to Iranian attempts to strike Navy ships. Analysts suggest that US military assets, including helicopters and fighter jets, likely provide protective cover for tankers during nighttime convoys, though Navy ships are not directly escorting all vessels.