CENTCOM: US forces facilitate shipping of 1 billion oil barrels out of Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Adm. Brad Cooper announced that American forces have facilitated the transit of one billion barrels of crude oil out of the Strait of Hormuz in recent months, assisting over 2,000 commercial ship transits. This marks the highest flow volume since the conflict with Iran began on February 28, with Cooper stating, “Clearly, momentum is building.” He also noted that primary transit routes have been cleared of mines, while Iran has exported zero barrels due to CENTCOM’s “ironclad blockade.”

• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have struck a Togo-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reporting two tankers hit by “unknown projectiles” in separate incidents on September 16 and 18.
• Iran organized a large rally in Tehran, with state media reporting 600,000 volunteers registered for military training, and over 1 million expected to participate, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”
• U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz stated that President Donald Trump plans to address a nuclear Iran at the U.N. General Assembly. Trump commented, “Iran wants to make a deal; they’re not ready, in my opinion,” and hinted at a “big decision coming up” regarding the Iranian regime.