CENTCOM says Iran cut off from maritime trade as US tightens economic pressure

WASHINGTON — US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said Friday that Iran had been effectively cut off from maritime imports and exports, as Washington intensified efforts to restrict Tehran’s oil revenue, disrupt its financial networks and weaken its ability to fund military operations.In a video statement, Cooper said US operations were focused on three areas: blocking Iranian oil exports, disrupting digital financing networks and undermining the ability of Iran’s security forces to pay their personnel.”With the exception of the humanitarian assistance we’ve allowed in, Iran has no exports and no imports by sea,” Cooper said.He claimed that US forces had prevented Iran from exporting at least $25 billion worth of crude oil in recent months.Cooper also said CENTCOM had supported other US government agencies in freezing nearly $350 million in cryptocurrency assets, restricting Iran’s ability to finance armed groups and rebuild military infrastructure.”CENTCOM has also supported US interagency partners in freezing nearly $350 million in digital cryptocurrency assets, further constricting Iran’s ability to fund terrorism or replace weapons and factories that we destroy,” he said.According to Cooper, Iran-aligned groups across the region have begun withholding payments to their fighters to redirect funds to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which he said was also struggling to pay its own personnel.”The Islamic regime is clearly feeling the economic pain, and the IRGC is increasingly showing signs of greater desperation as a result,” he said.Despite the restrictions on Iranian maritime trade, Cooper said commercial shipping continued through the Strait of Hormuz.He accused Iran of attacking commercial vessels and said US forces were working with regional allies and shipping industry partners to strengthen maritime security.”Let me be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran, and it remains open for business,” Cooper said.He said approximately 400 merchant vessels had passed through the strategic waterway over the previous seven days.