The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, posted on social media on Tuesday (March 10th) that the U.S. Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, but the post was promptly deleted. Trump administration officials denied this claim. The U.S. Navy continues to refuse to provide escort services for shipping.
According to Politico, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that the Navy has not yet escorted any ships through the Strait of Hormuz. However, she emphasized that naval escort remains “an option that President Trump will definitely use when necessary.”
An American official informed Politico before Leavitt’s press conference that Wright’s post was “not accurate.” Following the post, international crude oil prices fell below $80 per barrel; prices immediately rebounded after the post was deleted.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that since the U.S. launched joint strikes against Iran, the U.S. Navy has almost daily rejected requests from the shipping industry for escort services through the Strait of Hormuz, citing ongoing high risks of attacks.
Three sources familiar with the shipping industry stated that the Navy clearly stated at a regular briefing that they are currently unable to provide escort services, and this position did not change on Tuesday. Escort missions may only be carried out when the risks decrease.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, stated on Tuesday that the military is considering escort options but has not yet made a final decision. He also emphasized that the necessary resources, command requirements, and risk assessments for an escort mission will be reported to the Secretary of Defense and the President.
On Monday (March 9th), Trump said at a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago in Florida that the U.S. Navy and its partners will escort oil tankers through the strait when necessary, but he did not expect escort services to be required at that time.
Since the outbreak of the war over a week ago, shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has nearly come to a halt. About a fifth of the global oil supply is disrupted, and global oil prices have soared to their highest levels since 2022.
CBS News reported that U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran is taking steps to plant mines in the waterway. A senior official from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards previously threatened to attack any vessel attempting to pass through.
Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, Aramco, warned on Tuesday that ongoing disruptions due to the war in the Strait of Hormuz could have “catastrophic consequences” for the global oil market.
Adel Bakawan, Director of the European Institute for Studies on the Middle East and North Africa, pointed out that “whether it is France, the United States, the international alliance, or anyone else, nobody has the ability to ensure the safety of the Strait of Hormuz” because Iran can deploy mines and inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles for attacks.
A maritime security source also stated that the number of ships needed to ensure the safety of the strait is far insufficient, and even with escorts, the risks remain very high.
The Pentagon issued warnings again on Tuesday, stating that if Iran cannot ensure the passage of cargo ships, they will intensify their strikes targeting Iranian boats laying mines and storing mines.