Commercial shipping continues through the strait but remains below normal levels.
The U.S. military said it has “meticulously and quietly” cleared Iranian sea mines from internationally recognized shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the vital waterway open for commercial traffic.
The operation involved U.S. Navy divers, Navy SEALs, and aircraft from multiple branches of the U.S. military, according to a Thursday update by the commander of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Brad Cooper.
The operational update followed comments by President Donald Trump earlier this week, when he said the Strait of Hormuz was functioning.
The strait, which separates Iran from Oman and the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
Before the conflict began in February, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the narrow channel.
Cooper said nearly 1,500 commercial vessels carrying almost 750 million barrels of crude oil had received U.S. protection while transiting the strait during the operation.
He added that Iran had exported no oil since the United States resumed its maritime blockade in mid-July.
Central Command’s operation formed part of Washington’s broader campaign to enforce a naval blockade on Iran while allowing commercial shipping to continue through international waters.
The blockade began in April, paused operations in June, and resumed enforcement in July following renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Iran Maintains Political Conditions
Iranian officials maintain that normal shipping through the strait remains tied to broader political negotiations.
Tehran has said the waterway will remain effectively closed until Washington accepts a series of Iranian demands, including ending the naval blockade and lifting U.S. sanctions.
Iranian state-run media IRNA reported on Friday that Iran was preparing a formal list of conditions after mediators asked Tehran to outline the requirements for restoring full navigation through the strait.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said ending the regional war was among Tehran’s conditions.
Rezaei also said Iran and Oman had agreed on a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz that would include sections in both Iranian and Omani waters.
He said vessels would be permitted to use a designated central channel if the United States accepted Iran’s conditions.
