According to the TRT World, the United States has admitted it is not yet prepared to escort commercial oil tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, even as attacks and rising tensions threaten one of the world’s most important energy routes.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright acknowledged on Thursday that American military forces are currently stretched thin, with nearly all available assets focused on the ongoing war against Iran.
Speaking to CNBC, Wright said the US Navy would eventually begin escorting tankers through the narrow waterway, but not immediately.
“It’ll happen relatively soon, but it can’t happen now. We’re simply not ready,” Wright said. “All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities.”
The admission comes at a tense moment in the Gulf. Earlier on Thursday, two oil tankers were attacked off the coast of Iraq, leaving at least one person dead and briefly sending global oil prices surging past $100 per barrel.
Since the war with Iran began, US President Donald Trump has tried to calm nervous energy markets by promising naval escorts for oil tankers and offering insurance support to shipping companies. But despite those assurances, no US naval escorts have been deployed so far.
The situation has deepened concerns about global oil supplies. The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic maritime chokepoints, handles roughly a fifth of all global crude shipments. With attacks increasing and shipping routes disrupted, the passage is now effectively restricted.