U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a video message Saturday that “momentum is building” in the Strait of Hormuz as “the volume of crude oil, cargo and liquefied natural gas over the past two weeks is greater than at any time in the past six months.” “CENTCOM forces have supported more than a billion barrels of crude oil leaving the Gulf. That’s a billion barrels of crude oil leaving through the Strait of Hormuz in the last few months,” Cooper said. “We have reached this important milestone while helping more than 2,000 commercial vessels transiting through the strait by providing them with coordinated protection. Clearly, momentum is gaining momentum. The main shipping lanes in the strait are clear of mines. Thousands of ships have passed through the strait.” “More than a billion barrels of crude oil have been shipped from Gulf partners through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran has not exported any barrels thanks to our tight blockade,” Cooper continued. “Even with this progress, we remain clear-headed and focused as we work with our teammates in the US Interagency, as well as the six partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council, known as GCC, as well as insurance and shipping companies to increase the volume of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The effort is paying off. The volume of crude oil, cargo and liquefied natural gas in the last two weeks is higher than at any time in the last six months.” Cooper also said that “the average American doing this important work is in their twenties.” “They are pilots, maintainers, logisticians, culinary specialists, air defenders, intelligence analysts and members of all the other professional fields that make up the United States military, the largest force in the world,” he added. “To all of our service members and partners, stay focused and keep up the great work.”
