US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has announced that the US Navy will soon begin escorting oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure maritime security.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Bessent made these remarks during an interview with Sky News. The Secretary emphasized the strategic necessity of securing one of the world's most vital energy corridors.
"I am confident that as soon as it is militarily feasible, the US Navy, possibly in conjunction with an international coalition, will escort the vessels," Bessent stated. He further clarified that these escort operations would become viable once the United States establishes full control over the relevant airspace near Iran.
The Treasury Secretary noted that while some tankers, including those under the Chinese flag, have continued to navigate the strait, there is confirmed intelligence regarding Iranian activities. "We know that they have mined the strait," he added, noting that ongoing military operations related to Iran are currently costing the United States approximately $11 billion.
This development follows warnings from British Defense Secretary John Healey, who previously disclosed that Iran had begun laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Tehran, promising decisive action if mining continues. The US administration has already announced the destruction of more than ten Iranian mine-laying vessels in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, with roughly one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption passing through the waterway daily. Tensions escalated further on March 12, when Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declared that the Islamic Republic would not lift its blockade of the strait, heightening concerns over global energy security and potential military confrontation in the Persian Gulf.
