U.S. Central Command Chief Flies Over Hormuz, Says Strait Has No Iranian Mines

U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper flew over the Strait of Hormuz in a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook on Oct. 25, saying the waterway was “free and clear of Iranian sea mines” as U.S. forces backed continued navigation through a major global energy route.

The Strait of Hormuz is a major route for global energy shipping, making safe passage important to commercial tanker traffic. Cooper said the flight demonstrated the U.S. commitment to freedom of navigation. He thanked service members involved in a demining mission and operations to help escort tankers through the waterway.

“We remain intensely focused on keeping commercial traffic flowing,” Cooper said, adding that U.S. forces were working with Gulf partners, other U.S. agencies and the shipping industry.

On Oct. 17, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two supertankers struck mines in the strait. The claim was covered in earlier reporting on the tanker strikes.