US Central Command Clears Strait of Hormuz Shipping Lanes of Iranian Mines

The US military has successfully cleared internationally recognised shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz of sea mines laid by Iran, facilitating the transit of nearly 1,500 commercial vessels through the vital waterway, according to the commander of US Central Command on Thursday.

Admiral Brad Cooper stated that US forces deployed Navy divers, special operations forces, and aircraft to clear the traffic separation scheme and its established shipping lanes.

“Today, international shipping lanes are open, and momentum is building,” Admiral Cooper noted in a video message, adding that the assisted vessels transported nearly 750 million barrels of crude oil to global markets.

Furthermore, Admiral Cooper reported that Iran has been unable to export any oil from its shores since the US reinstated a naval blockade in mid-July. US forces have turned back approximately 75 vessels attempting to violate the blockade and disabled three non-compliant ships.

While Washington continues efforts to boost commercial traffic through this critical conduit for global energy supplies, shipping data indicates traffic is still significantly below pre-conflict norms. Kpler data cited by Reuters showed that ten commodity vessels transited the strait on Wednesday, contrasting with a 10-day average of roughly 15 vessels, with oil flows remaining only a fraction of the pre-conflict volume of over 20 million barrels per day.