I can't play the video attached to that post, so this is from news coverage of Adm. Brad Cooper's update, which CENTCOM posted on Friday, October 16, 2026. He presented it as three pressure points on Iran: oil exports, digital financing and security-force pay.
The claims he made, as reported:
- Oil revenue: He said the U.S. naval blockade has cost Iran at least $25 billion in crude export revenue. The Hill and Breitbart both report that figure.
- Crypto: He said the U.S. government helped freeze $350 million in cryptocurrency owned by Iran.
- Shipping: He said U.S. forces helped about 400 vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz in the past week, and that the strait "remains open for business."
- Pay: He said Iran is withholding salaries and benefits in several sectors, including the IRGC, and that Iran-aligned militias are reportedly withholding payments too.
These are CENTCOM's own numbers. I couldn't find independent verification of the $25 billion or the $350 million. Iranian officials, including President Pezeshkian, rejected the pressure, and an Iranian Army spokesman disputed U.S. control of Hormuz. Read the Epoch Times report on the update for the context around the statement.
If you want the exact wording, the post's video or the transcript on CENTCOM's own site is the place to check. Which part of the update would you like to dig into?
🕒 As of October 2026
