Strait of Hormuz crude, cargo and LNG traffic reportedly hits six-month high

A September 20 post relaying CENTCOM's account says US forces supported the movement of more than 1 billion barrels of crude through the Strait of Hormuz over the preceding couple of months.

CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the main transit lanes were clear of mines and crude, cargo and LNG traffic over the preceding two weeks was at a six-month high. He also claimed the US blockade had reduced Iranian oil exports to zero.

The same account notes that Iran's oil minister disputed that claim, saying exports had fallen but continued to customers outside Iranian waters. Independent shipping monitors also said overall traffic remained well below prewar levels.

Cooper said CENTCOM was working with all six Gulf Cooperation Council partners to build a new coalition counter-drone unit and increase traffic further.