Update on Oil Tanker Activity in the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump disclosed that over 100 million barrels of oil and more than 200 commercial vessels have recently traversed the Strait of Hormuz.

In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that these developments followed a “secret mission” he initiated in May.

“Last month, I directed our great American military to carry out a top-secret mission to support oil tankers and other commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Today, I am pleased to announce that as a result of this effort, more than 100 million barrels of oil have flowed through the Strait and onto the open market,” Trump stated.

“More than 200 commercial ships have safely passed through the strait. This highly successful effort is because the United States, not Iran, controls the Strait of Hormuz. America’s military power will be defeated and its economy will be lost. It’s over for Iran!” he added.

This announcement came just before the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed plans for new “self-defense strikes” against Iran, reflecting the rising tensions in the region.

Following the reports of these strikes, CENTCOM denied Iranian claims suggesting that the Strait of Hormuz was shut down.

“Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim that the Strait of Hormuz is closed,” the command noted.

“Merchant ships are moving in and out of the Strait of Hormuz again tonight,” they countered.

On Thursday, CENTCOM reiterated that “the Strait of Hormuz remains navigable.”

• A safe route has been established for commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
• This route is open to vessels that comply with the blockade against Iran.
• Hundreds of ships have successfully passed through in the past two months.
• The U.S. military is prepared to respond to Iranian aggressive actions.

This aligns with Trump’s earlier assertion that “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz.”

In conversations with reporters on Wednesday, Trump mentioned that nearly 20 ships had transited the strait overnight.

“We’re taking out millions of barrels of oil,” he claimed.

He added regarding Iran: “We took out 22 ships last night, late at night, with no lights on, because they didn’t have radar, and we blew them up.”