Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Iran Rejects US Claim of Record Hormuz Traffic
Iran and the US military disagree about how much shipping has recently moved through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military said the amount was unusually high.
It said more than 1 billion barrels of crude oil passed through the waterway in recent months.
It also said many cargo ships and gas shipments traveled through the strait.
Admiral Brad Cooper said traffic over the last two weeks was the highest in six months.
US forces said they helped more than 2,000 commercial vessels travel safely.
Iran called the US claims false and ridiculous.
The disagreement has led to a new war of words between the two sides.
Iran dismissed the US military’s claim that record volumes of traffic moved through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command said more than 1 billion barrels of crude had passed through the waterway in recent months.
Admiral Brad Cooper said crude oil, cargo and liquefied natural gas traffic reached a six-month high over the past two weeks.
US forces reportedly supported the safe transit of more than 2,000 commercial vessels.
The dispute has triggered a new exchange of accusations between Iran and the US military over shipping activity in the strait.
- Who
- Iran, the US military, US Central Command and Admiral Brad Cooper.
- What
- A dispute over US claims that record amounts of oil, gas and commercial shipping passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
- When
- The claims concern recent months, with a reported six-month traffic high over the past two weeks.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- The sides offered conflicting accounts of recent shipping levels and the role of US-supported protection.
Iran’s Position
US Military’s Position
Accuracy of traffic claims
Iran’s Position
Iran rejected the US military’s account, calling the claims false and ridiculous.
US Military’s Position
US Central Command said more than 1 billion barrels of crude moved through the strait in recent months and described recent traffic as unusually high.
Recent shipping levels
Iran’s Position
Iran disputes the characterization of traffic as record or exceptionally high.
US Military’s Position
Admiral Brad Cooper said the volume of crude oil, cargo and liquefied natural gas over the past two weeks was the highest in six months.
Role of US forces
Iran’s Position
Iran rejected the broader US account of activity in the waterway.
US Military’s Position
The US military said its forces supported the safe transit of more than 2,000 commercial vessels.
- Reported crude volume
- More than 1 billion barrels in recent months, according to US Central Command.
- Recent traffic level
- The US military said traffic over the past two weeks reached its highest level in six months.
- Cargo types
- Crude oil, cargo and liquefied natural gas were included in the reported traffic.
- Vessels supported
- More than 2,000 commercial vessels, according to the US military claim.
- Iran’s response
- Iran described the US military’s claims as false and ridiculous.
- Disputed waterway
- The Strait of Hormuz.