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Ruth Pines Feldman: The success of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in keeping oil flowing through Hormuz rests on a combination of military tools. These include naval protection, intelligence, surveillance and mine-clearing operations.
By removing mines and clearing maritime routes, U.S. forces have helped restore commercial shipping and maintain the flow of Gulf oil despite Iranian threats.
The Oct. 1 export figure, which exceeded pre-war levels, demonstrated a clear strategic shift: Iran’s ability to use the Strait of Hormuz as an economic weapon has been significantly undermined.
Published in JNS, October 16, 2026.
*The opinions expressed in Misgav publications are the authors’ alone.