WASHINGTON, June 10 — President Donald Trump said he ordered the US military to carry out a secret operation to move oil tankers and other commercial ships safely through the Strait of Hormuz during the 2026 crisis with Iran. The effort, according to Trump, has helped more than 200 commercial vessels and over 100 million barrels of oil transit the waterway, which he framed as a demonstration of American control of the strategic chokepoint.
Trump stated that the United States, not Iran, controls the Strait of Hormuz.
A sharp escalation had occurred earlier in the year, with roughly 20 percent of global petroleum supplies passing through Hormuz before US and Israeli strikes on Iran, after which traffic plunged as Iran retaliated by attacking ships and mining the sea lane. Many vessels transiting the strait reportedly switched off their transponders to avoid detection.
News organizations, including CNBC and ABC News, reported Trump’s announcement, but noted they could not independently verify the exact figures he cited for ships and barrels.
The disclosure underscores how central the narrow strait remains to global energy security and to the broader confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The Strategic Importance of the Strait
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway, with a significant portion of global petroleum supplies passing through it.
The US military’s secret operation to escort oil tankers and commercial ships through the strait highlights the importance of maintaining control of this strategic chokepoint. Trump’s announcement comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with the US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in the year sparking a sharp escalation in the region. The US military’s efforts to ensure the safe passage of oil tankers and commercial ships through the strait demonstrate the US commitment to maintaining stability in the region.
The fact that many vessels transiting the strait reportedly switched off their transponders to avoid detection underscores the risks and challenges associated with navigating this critical waterway. The US military’s secret operation to escort these vessels through the strait is a testament to the US commitment to protecting global energy security.
Looking Ahead
As the situation in the region continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Iran will respond to the US military’s efforts to maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz. The US will likely continue to prioritize the safe passage of oil tankers and commercial ships through the strait, given its critical importance to global energy security.
With tensions between the US and Iran remaining high, the coming days and weeks will be critical in determining the trajectory of the conflict.
The US military’s secret operation to escort oil tankers and commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz is a significant development, and one that will likely have far-reaching implications for the region and the global economy.
