US CENTCOM reports 1 billion barrels shipped through Hormuz

U.S. Central Command reported a significant increase in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with over one billion barrels of crude oil transiting the critical waterway in the past two months under American military protection. The announcement, made by CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper in a video statement released on September 19, 2026, highlighted a six-month high in the volume of crude oil, cargo, and liquefied natural gas moving through the strait over the past two weeks. Cooper stated that U.S. forces have provided coordinated protection for more than 2,000 commercial ship transits through the strait, with primary transit lanes cleared of mines. He attributed the halt in Iranian oil exports to what he described as an "ironclad blockade," claiming Iran has exported zero barrels of oil during the period. The commander emphasized that momentum is building, with thousands of ships having passed through the waterway. The update comes amid ongoing regional tensions. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations reported that two tankers were hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on September 16 and 18, with one incident causing a fire that was later extinguished.