Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Tom Cotton, has said the United States has maintained the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz despite escalating tensions with Iran, crediting U.S. military efforts and coordination with regional partners for keeping the strategic waterway open.
Speaking during an interview from 6:39 on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom on Friday, July 17, 2026, Cotton said several million barrels of oil have continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz each day since May.
“We have been able to get several million barrels of oil a day through the strait going back into May, as the President has revealed,” Cotton said.
He noted that much of the shipping activity has occurred during nighttime hours, although vessels have also transited the waterway during the day.
“Oftentimes it happens during hours of darkness—it can happen during hours of daylight as well. That’s the briefing we received from Central Command,” he added.
Cotton acknowledged that Iran retains the capability to harass commercial shipping using small drones and rockets but argued that the United States and its allies possess the capacity to safeguard maritime traffic through the vital shipping corridor.
According to the Arkansas Republican, ensuring the uninterrupted movement of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz remains critical to protecting global energy supplies and preventing higher fuel prices for American consumers.
The senator’s remarks came amid heightened military tensions in the Persian Gulf, where the Strait of Hormuz continues to serve as one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints for global oil exports….See More