The US military escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, marking a wartime high for such operations, CNN reported Wednesday. During the escort, US forces struck nearly 60 Iranian military targets, including air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications installations, while destroying several anti-ship cruise missiles. The waterway is a critical chokepoint (narrow passage vital to oil shipping) between the Gulf and wider global markets. About 20 million barrels transited daily before the war began more than six months ago, compared with more than 17 million barrels on Monday, according to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright. US military officials anticipate further strikes near the strait, saying Iranian forces can rebuild capabilities quickly and require sustained offensive pressure. US President Donald Trump declared American dominance over the waterway and suggested renaming it the Trump Strait. Tehran rejected Washington's claims, saying the passage will remain closed or heavily restricted until the US meets conditions linked to an interim deal reached in June. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy accused Washington of manipulating oil markets and concealing military failures, while the US said mine-clearance operations and pre-emptive strikes were intended to restore safe passage.