Centcom chief says Hormuz shipping lanes cleared of Iranian mines
US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said US forces cleared sea mines from shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and assisted nearly 1,500 commercial vessels. The vessels carried about 750 million barrels of crude oil. Iran has exported no oil since the US resumed a naval blockade in mid-July, and US forces turned back about 75 vessels attempting to breach it.
Why it matters: This relates to the theme of energy security and maritime chokepoints, as the Strait of Hormuz is a key conduit for global energy supplies.