US Central Command Chief Concludes Second Visit to the Middle East

SadaNews - The Chief of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Brad Cooper, has concluded his second visit to the Middle East, during which he held talks with regional partners in 6 countries, according to the command.

During his 15-day visit, Cooper announced the full implementation of President Donald Trump's decision to impose a strict maritime blockade on Iranian ports, with the US military announcing yesterday, Wednesday, that the maritime blockade imposed has halted shipping traffic to and from Iran.

CENTCOM stated - in a post on the "X" platform - that during the first 48 hours of the blockade imposed on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, no ship was able to surpass US forces, and that 9 ships also complied with US forces' orders to return to ports or coastal waters.

Commander Brad Cooper commented in a separate post that "US forces have maintained maritime dominance in the Middle East and have effectively succeeded in halting maritime trade to and from Iran," noting that about 90% of Iran's economy relies on maritime trade.

He added, "In less than 36 hours since the start of the implementation of the blockade, US forces completely halted the maritime economic trade entering and exiting Iran."

CENTCOM previously announced last Saturday that two warships passed through the Strait of Hormuz to remove mines placed by Iran, amid a temporary ceasefire in the Middle Eastern war.

In a statement, CENTCOM quoted its commander Cooper as saying, "We have begun the process of establishing a new corridor, and we will share this secure passage with the maritime sector soon to encourage the free flow of trade."

For its part, the spokesman for the "Khatam al-Anbiya" Headquarters in Iran denied the claims made by Admiral Brad Cooper regarding the nearing entry of US naval vessels into the Strait of Hormuz, stating at the time that "the initiative in the crossing and passage of any naval vessel is in the hands of the Iranian armed forces."