Bard Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, said that American forces over the past few months have protected close to 1,500 oil-carrying ships transporting about 750 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said the U.S. Army cleared mines laid by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in international routes of the Strait of Hormuz using divers, special forces, and air support, and these routes are now open.

According to Cooper, Washington is continuing Iran’s maritime blockade at the same time, and since Iran resumed the blockade in mid-July, the Iranian government has not exported any oil from its ports. He added that only the passage of ships with humanitarian objectives has been allowed.

CENTCOM said that thousands of American forces, with more than 20 warships and hundreds of aircraft, participated in this operation. So far, the American forces have compelled 75 vessels that intended to pass through the blockade to turn back and have disabled three vessels after ignoring their orders.

Cooper said that while carrying out the blockade, American forces will continue to protect the flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.