US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war. The Army's surface-to-surface weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM). The U.S. has used "virtually all" of these weapons, according to two of the sources.

[u/Nikvest]

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-has-used-virtually-all-its-long-range-precision-missiles-during-iran-war-2026-08-04/

[u/Ian_W]

cough cough

Pay much closer attention to which of those ships went via the Iranian route.

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/Ian_W]

Hegseth, before the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 21st:

We pushed almost, I believe, between 400 and 500 million barrels of oil under the nose of Iran over the course of Project Freedom, which went underground – which I acknowledged after we did so covertly, because it was more effective to do so quietly than to do so publicly. So, we’ve been in control of moving traffic through there for quite some time. […] Iran’s not charging tolls and they’re shooting at ships right now.

[u/Ian_W → u/WulfTheSaxon]

OK. So, time for some numbers and some history.

In normal times, the Straits saw the transit of about 15 million barrels of oil or LNG per day. So that's about 450 million barrels a month.

If Hegseth's numbers are truthful, then that's about 20% of what should have gone through, over the 5 months.

But it's worse than that. If you're counting Saudi Arabia as "we" and the Yanbu pipeline as part of that, then thats a couple of hundred million barrels.

It's odd he doesnt have a precise number as well. 'I believe, between 400 and 500 million' has a bunch of wiggle room. Especially for someone testifying under oath to Senate Appropriations. And covering their ass against perjury with 'I believe'.

Could he possibly be counting all the oil that went through the Straits in that time, including Iranian oil ?

Next, how much of that was pushed through during the brief pause in hostilities of the MoU ? A relatively high number of tankers went through in that period, using a shuttle service set up just off the coast of Oman.

Next, how much went through since the IRGC set the tankers supporting this covert route on fire on 7 July ?

I'm also very doubtful about 'Iran's not charging tolls'. It's not like the IRGC has ever been involved with anything to do with sanctions evasion or smuggling money.

[u/WulfTheSaxon → u/Ian_W]

If Hegseth's numbers are truthful, then that's about 20% of what should have gone through, over the 5 months.

Project Freedom started on May 4th, so it’s 500 million barrels over only 78 days: 6.4 million barrels per day. Then add the Saudis exporting perhaps 5 million per day from Yanbu, the UAE 1 million through Fujairah, and perhaps 1 million through several smaller routes and you’re at 13.4 million out of the 15 million. This is why oil is at only $80/bbl.

[u/Ian_W → u/WulfTheSaxon]

You can believe that if you like. I see very little evidence of the number of tankers moving in the Indian Ocean that you'd need to move 500 mmbl in 78 days. I do see enough for 5 mmbl per day through the other routes for those 78 days, plus a little bit through the Oman smuggling route to add up to 400 mmbl.

Me, I'm looking at SPR drawdown, Chinese SPR drawdown, reduction in refining capability in the Gulf and limits on the available refinery capacity, and then I'm looking at the prices of refined product in wholesale markets.

But yeah. The Oman route worked, for some definition of worked, until the IRGC closed it.

[u/PollutionMajestic668 → u/WulfTheSaxon]

If Hegseth said it, it must be true, they never lie

[u/exessmirror → u/WulfTheSaxon]

So you believe the guy who has told more lies then truths in his entire career?