Commercial shipping traffic continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz after US Central Command cleared mines from primary traffic lanes. Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, stated Wednesday that US forces facilitated the movement of more than 900 million barrels of crude oil through the strait since early May. The US maintains a maritime blockade on Iranian ports that has redirected more than 100 ships attempting to violate the restriction.

Iran does not control the waterway, and the current US blockade is "ironclad" and "highly effective," Hawkins said in a televised interview. CENTCOM is also monitoring the advance of Iran-backed Houthi forces near the Bab al-Mandab Strait in coordination with Saudi Arabia to secure regional shipping routes.