CENTCOM Says 97% of Strait of Hormuz Transits Succeed as Iran Fails to Close Waterway
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 17
CENTCOM Says 97% of Strait of Hormuz Transits Succeed as Iran Fails to Close Waterway
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 17
Summary
About 97% of ships seeking to pass the Strait of Hormuz have done so without being hit, CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said, arguing Iran has failed to shut the route.
The claim came after the Singapore-flagged GFS Pride was struck by an Iranian projectile on Wednesday and later sank while being towed ashore after a fire.
Over the last seven days, roughly 400 merchant ships sailed through the strait, while U.S. forces and Gulf partners moved more than 100 million barrels of crude, according to CENTCOM.
Adm. Brad Cooper said Iran's attacks on commercial shipping have killed more than 20 civilian mariners since February, citing the International Maritime Organization.
More than 50,000 U.S. troops are deployed across the Middle East as Washington says it is both protecting shipping through the strait and enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports.
How might pressuring Iranian shipping in other global straits serve as a non-military countermeasure to protect Hormuz?
Could a cooperative financing model under UNCLOS replace military escorts to secure the Strait of Hormuz?
Will escalating projectile attacks force global shipping companies to abandon the world's most critical energy corridor?
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: 97% Drop in Shipping, Energy Shockwaves, and Strategic Deadlock
Overview
From July to October 2026, the Strait of Hormuz became a dangerous and divided waterway, with U.S. and allied forces protecting a southern route while Iran enforced strict controls over the northern lane. Constant missile, drone, and mine attacks kept the threat level high, causing insurance premiums to soar and shipping rates to spike. As a result, commercial traffic dropped by up to 97% below normal, despite some oil exports rebounding due to high-risk rewards and special diplomatic deals. U.S. military strikes on Iranian assets led to Iranian retaliation and further instability, while global energy prices surged, impacting economies worldwide.