The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that U.S. forces have cleared Iranian sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz, laid months ago by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In a video update on X late Thursday, Commander Adm. Brad Cooper termed the achievement a “major milestone,” stating that “international shipping lanes are open and momentum is building.”
He shared a nautical chart of the Strait of Hormuz and said the mine-clearing operation over the months was challenging and involved meticulous efforts of the Navy divers, special operations, and air assets, among other forces.
“The circumstances were challenging and dangerous to say the least, but we got the job done,” said Cooper.
In recent months, nearly 1,500 vessels carrying approximately 750 million barrels of crude oil have navigated the waterway, said Cooper. Concurrently, around 50,000 U.S. troops have been enforcing a “highly effective” naval blockade, as a result of which there were ‘zero” oil exports from Iran, he said.
The CENTCOM Commander added that, as part of broader regional efforts, which involve over 20 warships and hundreds of aircraft, U.S. operations have turned back 75 vessels and disabled three non-compliant ones amid escalating tensions with Iran.
“No ships have entered or left an Iranian port without our permission, and we have only allowed ships to pass through on humanitarian grounds,” added Cooper.
US Naval Blockade Hits Iranian Oil Exports
This development comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which have been ongoing for the past six months.
The U.S. blockade on Iranian oil exports has significantly affected Iran’s oil shipments, according to Kpler data. Iranian oil loadings fell to 248,000 barrels a day in August, a stark contrast to the 1.85 million barrels of crude a day exported between March and April.
Iran’s Mohsen Rezaei told Lebanon’s Al Manar TV that any U.S.-Iran understanding over the Strait of Hormuz must include an end to military operations in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, along with an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and a halt to attacks on Syria. He stressed that the U.S. must demonstrate its commitment before Iran can rebuild trust.
At the time of writing, Brent crude oil futures expiring in October were trading 0.4% lower at $88.17 per barrel, while WTI crude futures expiring in October were trading 0.5% lower at $83.11 per barrel.
Trump in No Rush To Restart Iran Talks
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has adopted a relaxed stance on the timeline for Iran to return to peace negotiations and stated that he is “not in a hurry.” The President stated he has “no time schedule” for Iran to rejoin negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that the Trump administration is not interested in reviving the June memorandum of understanding with Iran. Instead, Trump is waiting to see whether his administration’s economic pressure campaign against Tehran will succeed.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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