CENTCOM Commander: Approximately 400 Commercial Ships Transited the Strait of Hormuz in the Past Seven Days
Brad Cooper confirms continued restrictions on Iran
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Washington, Oct 16 (KUNA) — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper said on Friday that approximately 400 commercial vessels had transited the Strait of Hormuz over the past seven days, noting the continued restrictions on Iranian maritime trade and measures taken to curb Tehran’s funding sources.
In an operational update via a video posted by CENTCOM on its X (formerly Twitter) account, Cooper stated, “With the exception of humanitarian aid we have allowed to enter, Iran is no longer able to export or import any goods by sea.” He added, “These measures, taken together, have inflicted significant losses on Iranian security apparatuses, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”
He noted that “in recent months, U.S. Central Command, in close coordination with partners across various U.S. agencies, has delivered strong strikes against the Iranian regime and the IRGC in three critical areas”: oil exports, digital financing, and the payment of security forces’ salaries.
He pointed out that as a result, “we have so far prevented Iran from exporting crude oil worth at least $25 billion, billions of dollars that would have been used by the world’s primary state sponsor of terrorism to fund proxy militias and criminal networks.”
Cooper added that CENTCOM “has supported its partners in other U.S. agencies in freezing cryptocurrency assets valued at nearly $350 million, further constraining Iran’s ability to fund terrorism or replace weapons and facilities we have destroyed.”
He expressed his belief that “it is evident that the Iranian regime is bearing the brunt of the economic crisis, and the IRGC is showing increasing signs of desperation as a result.” He noted that “recently, the IRGC has routinely attacked commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, often resulting in the deaths of innocent civilian sailors.”
He affirmed that “the Strait remains open to navigation and trade, with approximately 400 commercial vessels having transited it in the past seven days alone.” (End) R.S.R. / M.A.H.A.
