US Central Command says Hormuz blockade is highly effective

A US Central Command spokesman told Al Jazeera that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is “highly effective.” Captain Tim Hawkins said Iran does not control the waterway and claimed that 900 million barrels of oil have passed through the strait since May.

A spokesman for US Central Command has described the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as “highly effective,” according to Al Jazeera.

Captain Tim Hawkins, the CENTCOM spokesman, told the news organisation that Iran does not control the waterway. His comments concern a strategically important maritime route, although the supplied report does not provide further details about the nature or operation of the blockade.

Hawkins also said that 900 million barrels of oil have passed through the strait since May. Al Jazeera attributed both the assessment of the blockade and the oil-flow figure to the US military spokesman.

The report does not include a response from Iran or other parties, nor does it specify the dates covered by the oil estimate beyond saying that the total has been recorded since May. It also provides no additional information about the effect of the claimed blockade on shipping or energy markets.