Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that U.S. military escorts for commercial ships have removed Iran's leverage to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil transport. He noted that 17 million barrels of oil passed through the strait recently, despite Iran's previous threats to close it.
The U.S. has facilitated the passage of 72 ships carrying 19 million barrels of oil in just 24 hours, with trade intelligence firm Kpler confirming an exit of approximately 4.8 million barrels per day since an agreement was reached to open the sea lane.
Wright emphasized that the U.S. could reinstate its naval blockade if Iran fails to comply with Washington's demands, asserting that the Trump administration is committed to ensuring global energy supply. He downplayed the significance of the U.S. waiving sanctions on Iranian oil sales for 60 days, stating that Iran has not received any substantial financial benefits yet.
The situation escalated after Iran began attacking commercial ships following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, which had previously caused a significant drop in ship traffic and the largest oil supply disruption in history. The future governance of the Strait post-60 days remains uncertain, as Iran is expected to negotiate with Oman and its Gulf neighbors regarding the administration of the strait