U.S. military says it aided passage of 660 million barrels of oil through Strait of Hormuz since May - CNBC
The U.S. military reports it has facilitated the transit of 660 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz since May. Despite Iranian threats, officials claim commercial routes remain open, though estimates on daily volume vary between government and private sources.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy chokepoint; maintaining its security is vital for global oil supply stability and geopolitical peace.
The U.S. military has helped tankers transport more than 660 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz since early May, Central Command told CNBC this week.
The military has assisted about 1,300 commercial vessels sail through Hormuz over the same period, said U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, in a statement Thursday.
"Multiple routes remain free and open for commercial transit," Hawkins said.
This suggests at least 160 million barrels, or more than 7 million barrels per day, have transited the strait over the past three weeks, based on the military's past statements. Central Command said on July 29 that U.S. forces had assisted 500 million barrels through Hormuz since May.
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