White House: Strait of Hormuz open, Iran has exported no oil since blockade

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — White House adviser Stephen Miller said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for the United States, asserting that Iran has shipped no oil from its coastline since Washington reimposed its blockade in mid-July. Miller said Iran's navy, air force, radar systems and military command structure have been "completely eliminated," and described the outcome President Donald Trump secured against Iran as "the greatest military achievement in modern warfare history." The White House also announced that U.S. forces have cleared Iranian mines from international shipping lanes in the strait, allowing roughly 1,500 vessels and 750 million barrels of oil to transit under protection. Iran has maintained that navigational restrictions in the strait remain in place and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps retains "full control" over the waterway. Iranian oil exports have fallen sharply since the United States reimposed its blockade on Iran-linked vessels on July 13. Initial data showed China's daily imports from Iran dropped to about 534,000 barrels in August. Citing two Israeli officials, journalist Barak Ravid reported that former IRGC navy commander Brigadier General Ali Reza Tangsiri ordered the strait closed in the early days of the war and directed mining of the international shipping corridor. Iran has not responded to the claims or offered independent evidence.