From oil to crypto: Iran's damage bill from the American blockade

CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper detailed the cost of the blockade on Iran's economy: approximately $350 million worth of crypto assets were frozen, and the Revolutionary Guards are delaying salaries for their personnel. According to him, desperation in the Revolutionary Guards is leading to attacks on merchant ships.

The commander of the US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, detailed Iran's damage bill from the American naval blockade. According to him, the US prevented Iran from exporting crude oil worth at least $25 billion, funds that would have been used, in his words, by 'the number one sponsor of terrorism in the world.' Simultaneously, nearly $350 million worth of cryptocurrency assets were frozen. Cooper noted that more than 50,000 American soldiers are stationed in the Middle East, and the naval blockade remains in effect except for approved humanitarian aid. He also said that the Iranian government is delaying salaries and pensions, even for Revolutionary Guard personnel, and that regional militias are postponing payments to their fighters. Due to the pressure, according to him, the Revolutionary Guards are showing signs of desperation and attacking merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, where more than 20 civilian sailors have been killed since February. Cooper stated that the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the US and its partners, and that about 400 merchant ships passed through it in the past week.