International shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are open and mine-free after months of meticulous and dangerous work by American forces, the head of US Central Command announced Thursday.
In a video statement, which confirmed President Trump’s earlier claims that the critical waterway has been fully de-mined and is open and operating, Adm. Brad Cooper described the accomplishment as a “major milestone” in the six-month-long war in Iran.
“We have successfully cleared sea mines in the strait’s international shipping lanes that were laid months ago by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Cooper said in the operational update.
“Internationally recognized transit routes in the strait are free of Iranian sea mines, thanks to the incredible work of the US military,” the CENTCOM commander added.
Cooper explained that over the past few months, US forces, including Navy divers, Navy SEALs and air power from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, “meticulously and quietly cleared” the “long-standing” shipping lanes in Hormuz of Iranian mines under extremely hazardous conditions.
“The circumstances were challenging and dangerous, to say the least, but we got the job done,” he said. “Bottom line: today, international shipping lanes are open, and momentum is building.”
Additionally, US forces have helped nearly 1,500 commercial vessels safely transit the strait “by providing coordinated protection,” allowing nearly 750 million barrels of crude oil to make it out.
Meanwhile, Iran has exported “zero oil from its shores” since mid-July, when the US resumed the naval blockade on Iranian ports, according to the update.
“No ships have entered or left an Iranian port without our permission,” Cooper asserted, “and we have only allowed ships to pass through on humanitarian grounds.”
Since resuming the US naval blockade, American forces have turned around 75 vessels “attempting to run the blockade” — and disabled three ships that “did not comply when directed.”
Cooper lauded the “brave men and women” working to secure the strait for “their extraordinary service.”
His announcement comes just over a week after Trump proclaimed in a social media post that “all water mines have been removed or detonated” in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Aug. 18. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating.”
