Donald Trump has asserted that the United States conducted a covert operation in the Strait of Hormuz, enabling hundreds of oil tankers to evade Iran’s blockade in recent months. The former president made the remarks from the Oval Office on Wednesday, stating that Iranian authorities were unaware of the nighttime escorts, during which vessels kept their transmitters switched off.
In a subsequent post on his Truth Social platform, Trump elaborated that 200 tankers had been guided out of the blockaded waterway, collectively transporting more than 100 million barrels of oil to international buyers. The claim, if verified, would represent a significant blow to Iran’s efforts to restrict oil flows from Gulf states.
Industry data indicates that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have indeed risen recently, but analysts caution that many questions remain about the logistics and veracity of the reported secret mission. The strait remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, and any disruption can have far-reaching economic consequences.
