US Military Establishes Secret Shipping Route Through Strait of Hormuz to Secure Oil Flow
The US military has secretly established a shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, according to two senior American officials. This route, operational for several weeks, facilitates the daily transit of 15 to 20 oil tankers along the southern path near Oman's coast, moving approximately 10 million barrels of oil each day to global markets. This volume represents about half of the pre-war flow through the strait.
The operation, led by the US, aims to mitigate disruptions in oil supply caused by ongoing regional conflicts, which have previously driven crude oil prices higher. The US military not only escorts loaded tankers but also assists empty vessels entering from the Arabian Sea to collect oil from Gulf countries before returning through the strait. The full details of the operation remain classified.
US officials emphasize that they have controlled the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz for two months, despite potential threats from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The US Air Force provides protection against Iranian cruise missiles and drones, having intercepted multiple attacks recently. The operation is coordinated from the US Army headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in collaboration with Gulf partners.
This initiative was enabled by a two-week US Central Command campaign that degraded Iran's radar and maritime tracking capabilities, limiting Tehran's ability to monitor shipping movements. Consequently, Iranian attacks have been largely indiscriminate, targeting general areas where vessels are expected to transit. Despite some damage to ships, many Iranian attacks have been thwarted by US defenses.
President Donald Trump highlighted the significance of the operation, stating to Israeli media that "an enormous amount of oil is flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz." He also reiterated that the US is not currently negotiating with Iran, dismissing talks as a waste of time and describing Iran's military strength as diminished compared to the past.
