U.S. forces have supported more than 2,000 commercial transits through the Strait of Hormuz and the passage of over 1 billion barrels of crude oil in recent months, according to Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command. Crude, cargo and liquefied natural gas volumes over the past two weeks reached their highest level in six months after mine clearance and coordinated protection helped restore shipping activity. The United States is running that transit-support mission separately from a naval blockade of Iranian ports that it says has reduced Iran’s seaborne crude exports to zero. The strait normally carries about 20% of the world’s seaborne crude, but overall traffic remains below pre-war levels amid competing claims over whether the waterway is open, continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and risks to alternative export routes. Shipping volumes, Iranian supply disruptions and regional security incidents remain important variables for oil prices and maritime freight rates.