US Escorts Record Oil Flow Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Intensified Strikes on Iran

Two U.S. officials said the military escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying roughly 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, the highest wartime escort effort to date. Simultaneously, U.S. forces struck about 60 Iranian military targets around the strait—including air-defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications nodes—and neutralized anti-ship cruise missiles.

CNNUS-Iran escalation raises Hormuz doubts as oil climbs

The conflict began a little over six months ago, prompting the Trump administration to adopt a “full-court-press” strategy that concentrates on striking Iranian assets near the strait, maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports, and escorting merchant ships. Since July, the blockade has reportedly prevented Iran from exporting oil. Prior to the war, roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day transited the strait; officials say the recent escort marks a shift toward re-establishing commercial flow.

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• Vessels escorted: 40 commercial ships (first official).

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• Target count: ~60 Iranian military sites hit in the same operation (first official).

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• Charter cost: Some estimates place daily tanker charter fees at over $500,000.

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• Energy prices: Brent crude futures rose 0.9 % to $95.45 per barrel; West Texas Intermediate increased 0.55 % to $90.71 per barrel.

US-Iran escalation raises Hormuz doubts as oil climbs

U.S. Central Command officials emphasized that the strikes are intended to “mow the grass” of Iranian reconstituted capabilities and to degrade threats to commercial shipping. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stressed that the high daily export figure does not constitute Iranian control of the strait.

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• Vessel count: CNN-based officials reported 40 vessels escorted, while Reuters data cited by another outlet indicated only four vessels actually transited the strait on the same day.

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• Operational transparency: Details of the specific targets beyond radar sites remain limited, leaving uncertainty about the full scope of the strike list.

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U.S. military planners aim to widen the escorted lane through the strait by next month, seeking to allow vessels greater maneuverability and to increase the volume of oil flowing through the waterway.

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• “That is not Iranian control of the strait,” — Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary

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• “Crude is flashing red, but diesel is on fire/melting,” — Gregory Brew, Eurasia Group’s senior analyst for Iran and oil

US-Iran escalation raises Hormuz doubts as oil climbs