A senior US official tells Al Jazeera that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and under the control of the US Navy, in response to inquiries over Iranian threats to establish a restricted zone in the waterway.
The assessment follows a covert US Navy mine-clearing operation in the strait since April, in which special operations forces used advanced techniques to remove an estimated 80 naval mines. The official expects shipping traffic to rise further as a result.
They add that the US remains satisfied with current oil and gas flows through the strait. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has put the figure at about 9 million barrels per day.
