U.S. Central Command says Strait of Hormuz shipping routes remain clear of Iranian mines

Central Command said on October 25, 2026, that primary shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz remained clear of Iranian mines following American mine-clearance operations. Commander Admiral Brad Cooper surveyed the waterway aboard an Army CH-47 Chinook and met personnel involved in clearing mines attributed to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. CENTCOM reported supporting more than 3,000 commercial transits over six months and helping Gulf partners export over 1.5 billion barrels of crude oil since summer. The command said more than 95 percent of ships transited safely in recent months, while maintaining its focus on commercial navigation with regional partners.