U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday, October 25, that American forces had achieved a historic milestone by helping protect and escort Persian Gulf partners in successfully exporting more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a U.S. Central Command statement posted on X, American forces helped coordinate and protect about 3,000 commercial vessels passing through the strait over the past six months, with more than 95% of the vessels transiting safely.
The sharp confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz erupted after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran immediately declared control over the strategic strait, requiring all vessels to obtain prior permission before crossing the waterway, which carries roughly one-fifth, or 20%, of global oil output.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this month that Iranian forces had completely lost control of the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran’s economy was collapsing and declining sharply. Text: Rithy
