The U.S. Navy has declined repeated requests from the shipping industry to provide military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, citing high risk of attacks, sources familiar with the matter said.
Shipping through the narrow strait has largely stopped over the past week, halting exports that account for roughly a fifth of global oil supply and pushing oil prices to levels not seen since 2022. Iranian media reported that a senior Revolutionary Guards official declared the strait closed, warning that any vessel attempting passage would be targeted. Several ships have already been struck.
According to three shipping industry sources, the Navy has conducted regular briefings with industry stakeholders but maintains that escorts are not currently possible. Requests for naval protection continue almost daily, but officials stress that escort operations will only be feasible once the threat diminishes. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump Reiterates U.S. Readiness to Escort Tankers
President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the U.S. is prepared to escort tankers through the strait if necessary. “When the time comes, the U.S. Navy and its partners will escort tankers through the strait, if needed. I hope it’s not going to be needed, but if it is, we’ll escort them right through,” he said Monday at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the military is reviewing potential options for escorting vessels, but no commercial ship has yet been escorted. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright previously claimed an escort had occurred but later deleted the post. While some voyages have taken place in recent days, the bulk of shipping remains halted, with hundreds of vessels anchored.
Security Challenges Complicate Strait Control
Saudi Arabia’s Aramco warned that continued disruptions in the strait could have “catastrophic consequences” for global oil markets. Experts highlight that securing the waterway would be extremely challenging, even with an international coalition, due to Iran’s ability to deploy mines and low-cost attack drones.
“Neither France, the United States, an international coalition nor any other entity is currently in a position to secure the Strait of Hormuz,” said Adel Bakawan, director of the European Institute for Studies on the Middle East and North Africa. Last week, Iran reportedly used an explosives-laden remote-controlled boat to damage a crude oil tanker in Iraqi waters. Analysts say controlling the strait could require U.S. forces to dominate Iran’s extensive coastline.
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