US Central Command said on October 25, 2026, that it had helped Gulf partners export more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since summer, as shipping continued through the waterway amid the war with Iran.

Strait of Hormuz shipping operations

CENTCOM said more than 3,000 commercial vessels had transited the strait with support from its forces over the previous six months. It also said more than 95% of ships navigating the waterway had sailed through safely.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM chief, said primary transit routes remained clear of Iranian sea mines. He made the remarks while visiting US troops in Hormuz.

Oil flows and the conflict

Iran has demanded permission for ships to transit the strait since the war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. The waterway normally carries a fifth of global oil exports.

Earlier in October, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said almost as much oil was flowing out as before the conflict and claimed Iran had lost complete control of the strait. Maritime tracking firm Kpler said crude exports reached pre-war levels in September, with at least 16.5 million barrels leaving the region excluding Iran.

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