US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper says the main international shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz are clear of Iranian sea mines and that commercial vessels are transiting freely. He says he flew over the waterway earlier this week and saw dozens of vessels, adding that he did not see the IRGC operating there.
The claim comes amid competing accounts about Iran’s role and control of the strait. Iran has repeatedly said it maintains control over the waterway and reports actions against commercial traffic that it says use unauthorised routes. In one such report, the IRGC said it stopped two tankers attempting to cross the southern part of the strait, while accusing them of using US military support.
The outlets differ in emphasis: Business Line foregrounds the operational effort and coordination behind the assessment, while Middle East Eye foregrounds the contrast between CENTCOM’s assessment of cleared routes and Iran’s reported interceptions and assertions of control.
