CENTCOM: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is increasing; Iran has no control over this waterway

🔸The U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, says ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz is ongoing and that the volume of transit and activity in this waterway is increasing.

🔸In response to a question from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Wednesday, the 25th of Shahrivar, about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM said that in recent months “thousands of commercial ships and nearly one billion barrels of oil” have passed through the strait, adding: “Iran clearly has no control over it. This international waterway remains open for transit.”

🔸The command also accused Iran of trying to “intimidate and harm civilian crew members.”

🔸In recent months, Tehran has claimed to exert control over the routes used by ships in the Strait of Hormuz, but Washington has rejected the claim. CENTCOM has previously also said that U.S. forces have helped facilitate the passage of hundreds of commercial ships and hundreds of millions of barrels of oil through this waterway.

🔸Meanwhile, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday that about 18 million barrels of oil per day exited the Persian Gulf on Tuesday. In an interview with Fox News, he said that the oil transfer flow from the Persian Gulf has now reached a level that is “almost equivalent to pre-conflict levels.”

🔸Also on Wednesday, the 25th of Shahrivar, Agence France-Presse wrote that its review of industry oil data shows that the creation of a protected passage by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz has significantly increased the flow of oil from this strategic waterway.

🔸Read the full report on the RadioFarda website.