The White House said U.S. forces have cleared mines from international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and escorted nearly 1,500 commercial vessels carrying 750 million barrels of crude oil through the waterway.
In a statement released Friday, the administration said the United States — not Iran — now controls passage through the strait while enforcing a blockade on Iranian oil exports. The claims were presented by the White House and were not independently verified in the release.
The administration said 75 vessels attempting to break the blockade were turned around and that Iran has exported no oil from its shores since the blockade resumed in July. It also said Gulf oil exports have recovered to about two-thirds of levels recorded before the operation.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly described the strait as open and under full U.S. control. In public comments cited by the White House between Aug. 10 and Aug. 27, Trump said the Navy was allowing commercial traffic to move while preventing Iranian exports.
Administration points to economic pressure on Iran
The White House framed control of the waterway as part of a broader effort to cut revenue available to Iran and protect global commerce. Its statement said U.S. forces are keeping energy shipments moving while limiting Tehran's ability to earn money through oil sales.
The release cited former government officials and analysts who said the blockade was eroding Iran's leverage over the strait and increasing pressure on its economy. Several argued that alternative pipelines, U.S. energy exports and protected shipping had reduced Iran's ability to disrupt the global oil market.
Others quoted by the White House described the campaign as a longer contest aimed at reducing Iranian resources rather than producing a rapid military outcome. The administration said it plans to maintain pressure until Iran can no longer threaten international commerce or project power abroad.
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