US Military Secures Vital Gulf Oil Exports Amidst Regional Tensions

US military forces have facilitated the export of over 1.5 billion barrels of oil from Gulf countries since June, successfully navigating challenges posed by Iran's attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). Over the past six months, CENTCOM reported that more than 3,000 commercial vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz with US support. The command highlighted that despite Iranian threats, over 95 percent of ships passing through the channel have done so safely in recent months, underscoring that "the United States and regional partners control the international waterway." These figures were released as Commander Admiral Brad Cooper visited the region, observing the operational environment in the strait from a US Army helicopter. Admiral Cooper stated, "We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Gulf partners and the shipping industry. This visit underscores our strong commitment to continued freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz." He further credited "incredible efforts" by personnel conducting mine clearance operations for keeping the primary transit routes free of Iranian mines. "We remain intensely focused on keeping commercial traffic flowing as we work with our teammates in the US interagency, Gulf Cooperation Council, and shipping industry," Cooper added. Crude oil flows have largely returned to pre-war levels, prior to the US and Israel's military actions against Iran in late February, despite ongoing threats to commercial vessels from Iranian forces. Market intelligence firm Kpler reported that in September, approximately 16.5 million barrels of oil per day departed the region, matching the pre-war average, excluding Iran. Analysts attribute this recovery to a combination of offshore ship-to-ship transfers, US military escorts, and increased pipeline utilization. However, oil prices remain significantly higher than before the conflict began, with Brent crude futures trading around $114.50 a barrel on Sunday, a decrease of about 2 percent from the previous week's near six-month high. Brent crude settled at $72.48 per barrel on February 27, the day before the US and Israel initiated strikes on Iran.