U.S. Navy to Escort Oil Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Friday that the U.S. Navy will soon start to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard them against potential terrorist threats from Iran.
“I think the U.S. Navy will likely collaborate with the United Nations to provide protection for the shipping routes as soon as it becomes feasible,” Bessent mentioned during an interview with Sky News.
Bessent noted that tankers, including Iranian and Chinese-flagged ones, are currently traveling through the strait without issues, suggesting that there aren’t efforts to lay mines in the area.
Interestingly, Bessent had to pause the interview for two hours after receiving a call from the White House Situation Room. When he returned, he was asked if there had been discussions about naval escorts, to which he only replied, “Your words, not mine.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright provided insight on Thursday, indicating that naval escorts for tankers could commence “soon,” possibly by the end of March, although he mentioned that the necessary military resources are not in place yet.
“It will happen relatively soon, but not at this moment,” Wright stated.
He expressed concerns about the current state of military readiness, as all assets are primarily focused on countering Iran’s offensive capabilities and their production.
Wright also disclosed that a meeting is scheduled for Thursday night at the Pentagon to strategize on how to protect oil tankers in the region.
On social media, Wright stirred up some controversy on Tuesday by claiming that the U.S. Navy had “successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz,” which led to a notable drop in global oil prices before being taken down by his office.
White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed awareness of the post, clarifying that while she hadn’t spoken with Wright directly about it, the Navy is not currently escorting tankers or vessels.
In a Fox News interview aired Friday, President Donald Trump mentioned that while the U.S. might consider deploying warships for escorting tankers through the strait, it might not be necessary if airstrikes on Iranian weapon sites escalate.
“If we need to, we’ll do it. But I hope we can avoid that. We’ll see how it goes,” Trump commented.
He additionally stated, “We’ll hit them hard next week.”
Ten days ago, Trump had posed the possibility that the Navy would provide protection for oil tankers “as soon as feasible,” asserting that the U.S. is committed to ensuring the free flow of energy globally.
Recently, he urged ship captains to “show courage” and sail through the Strait of Hormuz, stating that they have nothing to fear as Iran’s capabilities have been significantly diminished, claiming, “We sank all their ships.”
Despite the risks in the region, Trump noted, “We need to act swiftly against these types of threats,” as Iran has recently attacked several tankers, maintaining its status as a danger to international shipping. Reports mention that two tankers caught fire near Iraq, resulting in at least one fatality. Iran even released footage showing a drone boat equipped with explosives responsible for one of these attacks.
In a statement, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, asserted the intention to continue striking civilian vessels that attempt to navigate the Strait of Hormuz without obtaining permission, emphasizing the need to uphold the tactic of closing the strait if necessary.
