US Military Facilitates Oil Exports Amidst Iran War
Source reports published 26 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 11:30 pm AEST
The US military has supported the export of 1.5 billion barrels of oil from Gulf states, primarily through the Strait of Hormuz.
What happened
- US military forces, under the command of Admiral Brad Cooper, have aided Gulf countries in exporting over 1.5 billion barrels of oil since June.
- This support, including 3,000 commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz and the clearance of shipping lanes free of mines, has contributed to a rebound in oil flows to pre-war levels.
- Market intelligence firm Kpler reports that 16.5 million barrels of oil per day were leaving the region in September, matching the average before the US and Israel launched their operations in late February.
- Analysts attribute this to ship-to-ship transfers, US military escorts, and increased pipeline use.
- Simultaneously, President Trump’s personal holdings in oil and gas companies have increased by between $12.6 million and $81.6 million, according to a Congressional Joint Economic Committee report.
- The president’s stocks have risen by an average of 43% since the end of 2025, driven by increased oil prices due to the ongoing conflict.
- White House spokesman Davis Ingle stated that the president’s investments are managed independently and do not influence trading decisions.
- Senator Maggie Hassan highlighted the impact on American consumers, noting that gas prices have risen significantly while Big Oil profits have soared.
Original reporting
- Al Jazeera: US military says it helped Gulf states export 1.5 billion barrels of oil
2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00 - CBS News: As Trump brags about U.S. oil and gas company profits, his stocks gained millions during Iran war
2026-10-26T13:30:00+00:00