Story perspectives

US Blocks Two Ships, Hormuz Oil Flow Rises 50%

6/13/2026

Summary

US Forces Blockade

U.S. Central Command said forces disabled two ships in Gulf of Oman for breaching the blockade, halting Iranian oil transit.
Non-Iranian oil through Hormuz rose about 50% in June to 1.8 million barrels per day as Brent fell below $90 from the March $120 peak.
President Donald Trump claimed a mission moved about 100 million barrels through the strait since last month, while inventories fell to 351 million barrels, the 325 million-barrel danger zone.

Summary

Burgum Escorts

Lloyd’s List logged 36 transits 1-7 June, with 17 sailing “dark” and turning off AIS.
Kpler said ship-to-ship transfers averaged 1.9 million barrels daily since early April, rising to about 2.1 million in late May.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum reported Navy escorts for up to 20 vessels per night, sometimes more.
China’s May oil imports fell by roughly three million barrels per day versus a year earlier.

History

Historical Context

In August 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading the United Nations to impose an oil embargo that halted Iraqi exports and forced Gulf oil onto alternative routes. The 1990 embargo established a precedent for using naval measures to shape regional oil flows, a strategy echoed in recent U.S. Gulf of Oman interdictions.

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US Forces Blockade

U.S. Central Command said forces disabled two ships in Gulf of Oman for breaching the blockade, halting Iranian oil transit.
Non-Iranian oil through Hormuz rose about 50% in June to 1.8 million barrels per day as Brent fell below $90 from the March $120 peak.
President Donald Trump claimed a mission moved about 100 million barrels through the strait since last month, while inventories fell to 351 million barrels, the 325 million-barrel danger zone.

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