US Denies Escorting Tankers in Strait of Hormuz: Triggered Global Oil Price Fluctuations
The White House has confirmed that the US Navy has not yet provided escort for oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This statement served as clarification following a post by the US Energy Secretary that temporarily sparked public confusion and fluctuations in global crude oil prices on Tuesday local time.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that no escorting operations are currently underway. “I can confirm the US Navy has not escorted tankers or vessels at this time. Of course, that is an option that the President believes would very likely be used if and when necessary, at the right time,” Leavitt stated during a White House briefing.
The information confusion began when Energy Secretary Wright’s official X account posted a video stating that the US Navy had successfully escorted oil tankers to maintain global market supply stability. The post was deleted just minutes later.
A Department of Energy spokesman explained that the video had been “mislabelled by Department of Energy staff.” He added that President Trump and his energy team are continuing to monitor the situation and have requested the military prepare various options to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
The premature announcement briefly disrupted energy markets. US crude oil prices, initially at US$84 per barrel, dropped sharply to US$76.73 shortly after Wright’s post appeared. However, prices corrected back to US$84.70 after the post was deleted. Nevertheless, overall US oil prices still fell more than 10 per cent that day.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated following intelligence reports indicating Iran has begun laying mines in this vital shipping lane. Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil supply transits through this strait.
Although mine-laying has been reported at limited scale so far, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is reported to have the capability to deploy hundreds of mines using small vessels and speedboats. The IRGC has previously issued threats to attack any vessel passing through, leading the route to be nicknamed the “Valley of Death.”
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated military readiness should escort orders be issued. “If tasked with escorting oil tankers through the strait, the military will consider various options to arrange military conditions enabling completion of that mission,” he said.
President Trump first floated the naval escort idea last week, though he expressed hope such drastic measures would not be necessary. Currently, internal coordination regarding the timing and conditions for military operations in the region remains the Trump administration’s primary focus.