Centcom chief says US and partners dominate Hormuz, halting Iran's oil flow

Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, told a video audience that the Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the United States and its regional partners, not Iran. He claimed the US blockade has inflicted a "devastating cost" on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, halting virtually all Iranian maritime imports and exports aside from humanitarian aid. According to Cooper, the blockade has stopped Iran from exporting at least $25 billion worth of crude oil and has severely limited its power projection capabilities.

He added that US forces have helped Gulf allies ship more than 100 million barrels of crude in the last week, with about 400 merchant vessels passing through. In total, the United States has facilitated the movement of 1.3 billion barrels through Hormuz in recent months.