U.S. Effectively Halts Iranian Oil Exports Through Strait of Hormuz, Says Marco Rubio

Washington, October 20 (Daily Kiran) : Washington’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States has effectively halted Iranian oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, millions of barrels of crude oil from other nations continue to reach global markets.

Rubio noted that approximately 13 to 14 million barrels of oil flow daily through this crucial maritime route. U.S. military forces are actively protecting commercial vessels from Iranian attacks, aiming to weaken Iran’s economy while ensuring international energy supply remains stable.

These remarks were made during an interview with Breitbart News on October 15, which was released by the U.S. State Department on October 19. Rubio stated, “Looking at the past ten days and especially the average over the last 30 days, around 13 to 14 million barrels of oil have been reaching the global market through the Strait of Hormuz daily.” He added that in some instances, this volume has matched levels seen before hostilities began. However, these figures have not been independently verified.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most significant energy corridors, through which Gulf nations export oil to international markets, particularly to India and other major economies in Asia. Despite ongoing Iranian attacks, Rubio emphasized that U.S. forces are helping maintain normal maritime trade. He asserted that American military efforts are focused on protecting these vessels from assaults.

Rubio claimed that following U.S. military actions, Iran has lost its influence over this waterway. Washington is now restricting Iran’s oil revenue through sanctions and blockades. He stated, “There is only one country in the world that cannot send a single barrel of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and that is Iran.” However, no independent shipping data was provided to substantiate how sanctions have impacted Iran’s oil exports.

The administration’s goal, according to Rubio, is to prevent Iran from using energy supply and maritime security as leverage against other nations. He argued that U.S. military operations have significantly weakened Iran’s conventional military capabilities, including its naval power, air defense systems, and missile and drone production facilities. Rubio emphasized that the administration aims to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, as the nation has historically relied on its military strength to deter external intervention.

Despite losing considerable capabilities, Rubio warned that Iran continues to pose a threat to maritime vessels. He defended the economic sanctions imposed on Iran, asserting that they are intended to limit resources available to the Iranian military and affiliated armed groups.

He stated, “Every dollar you withhold from them through sanctions is a dollar less that could go to Hezbollah, a dollar less for Hamas, a dollar less for armed groups in Iraq, or a dollar less for their military or nuclear ambitions.”

While acknowledging public frustration over the prolonged tensions with Iran, Rubio maintained that the U.S. has achieved several critical military objectives. Currently, the role of U.S. forces in the Strait of Hormuz is primarily defensive, focusing on vessel protection while simultaneously maintaining economic pressure on Iran.