US Central Command said Thursday that internationally recognized shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz had been cleared of Iranian sea mines and that Iran had exported no oil since Washington resumed its naval blockade in mid-July.
“Today international shipping lanes are open and momentum is building,” he said.
“While American forces have supported 750 million barrels of crude oil leaving the Gulf, Iran has exported zero oil from its shores since we resumed the naval blockade in mid-July.”
Cooper said the blockade had prevented ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports without US permission, with exceptions only on humanitarian grounds.
Since the blockade resumed, US forces have turned back 75 vessels attempting to breach it and disabled three others that failed to comply with US directions, Cooper said.