The U.S. Navy has quietly helped keep oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz, escorting tankers along a southern corridor close to Oman as tensions with Iran have disrupted one of the world’s most important energy routes. According to a New York Times report, only a small fraction of tankers continued using the strait during much of the war after Iran launched attacks on commercial shipping. But since May, the U.S. military has helped more than 1,000 ships transit the waterway, according to U.S. Central Command.
Before the conflict, roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil a day passed through the Strait of Hormuz. That flow fell sharply during the fighting. Analysts cited by The Times estimate that approximately 5 million barrels a day now move through the strait as U.S.-protected shipping has increased. The operation focuses on the southern portion of the strait, where ships stay closer to Oman and farther from Iran’s coastline. Tanker operators coordinate planned voyages with the U.S. military and report potential threats or attacks. American ships, aircraft, and helicopters can then respond to Iranian drones and missiles.
