The United States military isn’t ready to escort oil ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a top official in President Donald Trump’s administration, directly contradicting earlier suggestions from the president. This news comes as Iran continues to effectively block the crucial waterway, causing oil prices to surge worldwide.
According to Al Jazeera, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told a business news channel on Thursday that the markets are seeing a “short-term disruption,” but he predicts the conflict will last “weeks, not months.” Trump had previously hinted that the US Navy would step in to escort vessels through the Gulf. However, Wright clarified that such a move “can’t happen now” because the military is currently focused on different priorities.
Wright explained that all US military assets are concentrated on “destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities.” The goal, he stated, is to permanently dismantle Iran’s ability to build missiles, construct roads, and maintain a nuclear program. He framed the current crisis as “short-term pain for long-term gain,” arguing that the US is actively “destroying” Iran’s capacity to threaten the energy market.
Mojtaba Khamenei says the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed
Adding to the tension, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, made his first public statement since taking over from his father, Ali Khamenei. He affirmed that the Strait of Hormuz should definitely “remain closed” during the war. Khamenei said that “the will of the people is to continue effective and deterrent defence” and that “the tactic of closing the Strait of Hormuz must also continue to be used.”
The Iranian military has even suggested it would “welcome” the US Navy escorting oil ships, implying they are prepared for direct engagement in the narrow waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to the Indian Ocean, has seen three commercial vessels attacked near its vicinity just this past Wednesday.
Earlier this week, Secretary Wright had briefly posted on social media that the US Navy had escorted an oil ship, but he quickly deleted the post. The White House later confirmed that the claim was incorrect, though the reason for the false statement and its retraction remains unclear.
Despite initial assurances from US officials that the strait would reopen, which temporarily calmed markets, prices have continued to spike. Before the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, a barrel of oil was around $70. It peaked at about $120 on Sunday, and it’s been fluctuating between $80 and $100 for the last few days. Beyond the marine blockade, Iran has also targeted oil installations across the Gulf, adding to the instability.
While the US is one of the world’s largest oil producers and largely self-sufficient, the potential shortages in Asia and Europe are putting a significant strain on global prices. For those of us driving, that means higher costs at the pump. The average price of a gallon of petrol in the US is now $3.60, a noticeable jump from $2.94 last month. Rising energy costs could easily fuel inflation and impact the price of everyday essentials, including food.
However, Trump suggested on Thursday that the US is actually benefiting from these skyrocketing oil prices. He wrote in a social media post that “The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money.”
He then emphasized that his primary concern as president is “stopping an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World.” This is interesting because Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, and President Trump had repeatedly stated before the current conflict that US strikes in June had “obliterated” the country’s nuclear program.
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