US military says it helped Gulf states export 1.5 billion barrels of oil

US military forces have supported Gulf countries export more than 1.5 billion barrels of oil since June, despite Iran's efforts to control the critical waterway, according to US Central Command (COMMAND).

Key points

• Brent settled at $72.48 per barrel on February 27, the day before the US and Israel began strikes on Iran.
• After easing concerning 2 percent from last week's almost six-month high, brent crude futures stood at regarding $114.50 a barrel on Sunday.
• At least 16.5 million barrels of oil per day left the region in September, equal to the pre-war average, excluding Iran, according to market intelligence firm Kpler.
• "This visit underscores our strong commitment to continued freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz."
• "We remain intensely focused on keeping commercial traffic flowing as we work with our teammates in the US interagency, Gulf Cooperation Council, and shipping industry, " he remarked.

In practice, the US military command remarked on Sunday that more than 3, 000 commercial vessels had transited the Strait of Hormuz with its backing over the past six months.

It continued that more than 95 percent of ships navigating the channel had sailed through safely in recent months despite Iranian threats, "clearly demonstrating that the United States and regional partners control the international waterway".

CENTCOM confirmed the figures as Commander Admiral Brad Cooper produced a visit to the region, during which he observed the "current operational environment" in the strait while flying in a US Army helicopter.

"We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Gulf partners and the shipping industry, " Cooper remarked in an official note.

Cooper remarked the primary transit routes for vessels in the strait were free of Iranian mines due to the "incredible efforts" of personnel who conduct mine clearance operations.

Crude oil flows have largely returned to levels seen before the US and Israel introduced their war on Iran in late February, despite the ongoing threat of attacks on commercial vessels by Iranian forces.

Analysts have attributed the rebound to a combination of offshore ship-to-ship transfers, US military escorts, and rose apply of oil pipelines.

Nevertheless, oil costs remain far higher than before the start of the war.

In short, US military says it helped Gulf states export 1.5 billion barrels of is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.