US military credits Gulf states for 1.5 billion barrels of oil shipped

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical artery for global energy supplies. US Central Command released data on Sunday showing that American forces have assisted in moving a massive volume of crude oil through the waterway since June.

The command stated that more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil have been exported by Gulf nations with US support. Over the same six month period, more than 3,000 commercial vessels transited the strait. CENTCOM reported that over 95 percent of these ships completed their journeys safely. The military attributed this high success rate to joint efforts with regional partners to maintain control of the international waterway.

Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, was in the region on Sunday. He observed the operational environment from a US Army helicopter. In a statement, Cooper said the US continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with Gulf partners and the shipping industry. He emphasized the commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation through the strait.

Cooper noted that the main transit routes are currently free of Iranian mines. He credited mine clearance personnel for their efforts in clearing the paths. The command said it remains focused on keeping commercial traffic flowing in cooperation with the US interagency, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and industry leaders.

Oil flows have returned to levels seen before the war began in late February. Market intelligence firm Kpler reported that at least 16.5 million barrels of oil per day left the region in September, excluding Iran. This figure matches the pre war average. Analysts linked this recovery to offshore ship to ship transfers, US military escorts, and increased use of oil pipelines.

Despite the volume recovery, oil prices have not returned to their previous baseline. Brent crude futures stood at approximately $114.50 a barrel on Sunday. This represented a drop of roughly 2 percent from the near six month high reached last week. On February 27, the day before strikes on Iran began, Brent crude settled at $72.48 a barrel.