US Navy escorts 15 million barrels through Hormuz as Iran standoff persists
US military helped move 15 million barrels through Strait of Hormuz; total flows near 20 million as tensions with Iran continue.
The US military helped move more than 15 million barrels of oil and petroleum products through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, with total shipments from the region—including pipeline volumes—approaching 20 million barrels, according to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
In a social media post on Saturday, Wright said the seven-day average of oil leaving the strait had risen above 8 million barrels per day and credited the US Navy for maintaining the flow. "Make no mistake, thanks to the U.S. Navy, oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz," he wrote.
The announcement comes as diplomatic efforts to resolve the US-Iran standoff remain deadlocked. Washington and Tehran have failed to reach a durable agreement on restoring normal shipping and easing economic pressure. Tehran says it wants a deal but rejects terms it considers unacceptable, while the Trump administration has moved toward tougher sanctions.
The uncertainty has kept oil markets on edge. Brent crude ended the week at around $94.39 a barrel, up 6.6% over the week, while West Texas Intermediate settled at $87.06.
Despite evidence that more oil is leaving the Gulf, traders worry that current flows depend heavily on military support and could be disrupted by renewed escalation. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical energy chokepoint, and any sustained closure could tighten global supplies rapidly, especially as Iranian exports have already dropped sharply.
For markets, the key question is whether these flows can be sustained without continued military intervention. A breakthrough in US-Iran talks could ease the geopolitical premium, while renewed disruption around Hormuz could push prices higher.