The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that U.S. military forces have helped Gulf countries export more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil since June.
In an announcement shared on social media on Sunday, October 25, CENTCOM said it had helped more than 3,000 commercial vessels transit through the Strait of Hormuz over the past six months.
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) sails alongside Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on Dec. 8, 2025. USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), flagship of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the U.S. Navy’s long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathaly Cruz)
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a scheduled port visit Dec. 3, 2013. The Nimitz was in the process of returning to its home port, Everett, Wash., following an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet, U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Rose Forest/Released)
It comes as Iran insists the strait remains closed to commercial traffic.
Commanding Commercial Vessels
In addition to the more than 3,000 vessels, CENTCOM said it helped navigate the Strait of Hormuz and that more than 95% passed through without attack from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
CENTCOM added that this demonstrated that the “United States and regional partners control the international waterway.”
The announcement came as CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper visited the region and observed the “current operational environment” aboard a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook over the Persian Gulf.
“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Gulf partners and the shipping industry,” said Cooper on Sunday. “This visit underscores our strong commitment to continued freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Thanking Troops
During the visit, Cooper met with U.S. service members who supported U.S. mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year.
CENTCOM said that Cooper thanked them for their continued commitment and dedication.
“Today, primary transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz remain free and clear of Iranian sea mines thanks to incredible efforts by our people,” Cooper added. “We remain intensely focused on keeping commercial traffic flowing as we work with our teammates in the U.S. interagency, Gulf Cooperation Council, and shipping industry.”
Oil and Iran
Oil exports have returned near pre-war levels despite Iran’s insistence that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
This is partly because exporters are using alternative routes. Saudi Arabia, for example, has resumed shipping through its East-West oil pipeline.
At the same time, the United Arab Emirates has rerouted oil to its Fujairah export terminal that lies just outside the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite intensified strikes on shipping from Iran in recent weeks, smaller vessels have been able to transit through the Strait of Hormuz with their trackers turned off.
Under cover of darkness and with U.S. Navy support, smaller ships taking routes close to the Omani coast have transported cargo from larger vessels that are easier to spot from Iranian territory.
Nevertheless, Tehran’s renewed focus on the international waterway has made it one of the most dangerous months for commercial shipping since the war began.
Despite U.S. optimism, shipowners and captains remain reluctant to risk damage to their vessels and crews, leaving some cargo stranded in the Persian Gulf.
As a result, oil prices have remained high. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, has remained above $100 per barrel for much of October.
As of the morning of Monday, October 26, Brent crude was at $115.45 — a drop of 1% on the previous day.
Little Sign of Peace
Questions remain as to whether the U.S. and Israel will resume strikes on Iran after discussions over a peace deal between Washington and Tehran stalled.
Last month, Iranian officials presented the Trump administration with a proposal to end the conflict.
The deal largely resembles the memorandum of understanding that was signed between the two warring nations earlier this year, but ultimately fell through after the U.S. accused Iran of striking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
After rejecting the deal, the U.S. sent a response to Tehran, which Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei described as “insufficient.”
“About two weeks ago, we communicated seven conditions to the Americans, stating explicitly that until these conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened to them, and no negotiations will take place,” Rezaei told state media.
“The Americans have now responded. While they have accepted some of our conditions, others remain unresolved.”
“We are no longer in the process of responding to the Americans. They have replied, and we consider it insufficient. They must clarify the issues that remain ambiguous,” he added.
About the Author: Shay Bottomley
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist. He has written for the Western Standard, Business Insider, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo.
