CNN: US escorted 40 vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through Strait of Hormuz
US military forces on Tuesday escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Anadolu Agency reported this, citing CNN. According to the TV channel, this was the highest number of such operations during the war, which has been ongoing for more than six months.
Strikes on Iranian facilities
Two US officials familiar with the operation told CNN that US forces struck nearly 60 Iranian military targets near the strait. The operation targeted air defense facilities, radar systems, naval assets, mine-laying capabilities, and communications facilities.
During the escort, US forces also destroyed several anti-ship cruise missiles. One CNN source said that the US military expects further strikes near the strait in the coming days, as Iranian forces, according to him, may be able to quickly restore their capabilities.
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Statements on control over the strait
Before the war began, approximately 20 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC that more than 17 million barrels of oil passed through the waterway on Monday.
US President Donald Trump said that the United States controls the strait and suggested the possibility of renaming it the “Trump Strait.” Tehran rejects Washington’s claims of control over the waterway. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that the strait will remain closed or significantly restricted until the United States fulfills conditions related to a temporary agreement reached in June.
The naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also rejected US claims that the strait is open and accused Washington of manipulating oil markets and concealing military failures. The United States conducted mine-clearing operations and launched preemptive strikes on Iranian systems that, according to Washington, were preparing to lay mines.
