CENTCOM reveals what its ‘ironclad blockade’ has done to Iran as Trump weighs ‘annihilate’
WASHINGTON, DC: US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday, September 19, that more than 1 billion barrels of crude have moved through the Strait of Hormuz as President Donald Trump weighs further action against Iran.
The command said its blockade has kept Iranian crude exports at zero while commercial traffic through the strategic waterway has continued.
The update came as Trump told Axios he faces a "big decision" over whether to "annihilate" the Iranian regime.
Update from CENTCOM Commander: pic.twitter.com/PTX6n9fn56
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 19, 2026
CENTCOM says Iran exported zero barrels
Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, said, "Iran has exported zero barrels thanks to our ironclad blockade," while describing the crude flow as a major milestone.
Cooper said US forces had also assisted more than 2,000 commercial ship transits through the Strait by providing coordinated protection, while primary transit lanes remained clear of mines.
"1000s of ships have passed through the Strait," Cooper said in a video posted by CENTCOM on X Saturday.
He said the volume of crude oil, cargo, and liquid natural gas moving through the waterway during the past two weeks was higher than at any point in the previous six months.
CENTCOM said it was working with the US interagency, all six Gulf Cooperation Council partners, insurance companies and shipping firms to increase traffic through the Strait.
Trump weighs whether to escalate against Iran
Trump told Axios Thursday that his next decision could involve whether to "go in and annihilate them," referring to the Iranian regime.
"I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them [the Iranian regime] or do I not?" Trump said.
He said his approach would depend partly on what leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman tell him during a Tuesday meeting in New York.
Trump also told NewsNation that Iran wants an agreement because, in his view, Tehran is "losing in every way" financially and militarily.
"If the deal’s not a correct deal, then I wouldn’t even think about it," Trump said.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Trump plans to use his upcoming General Assembly address to argue that Iran must be prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Shipping remains sharply reduced
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre said Friday that commercial shipping traffic in the Strait remained about 90% below pre-conflict levels.
UKMTO said US enforcement activity against Iranian-linked shipping had increased over the previous seven days, while tankers remained the predominant vessel type using the Strait.
CENTCOM separately said Friday that 105 commercial ships had been directed by American forces during the blockade on Iranian ports.
Trump said Friday that the war would end soon and predicted gas prices would fall after the conflict concludes, while saying military action was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, Iranian nuclear official Behrouz Kamalvandi said Iran had "sufficient cards and options" and the resolve to defend itself despite US pressure, as cited by Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
