The latest
President Donald Trump portrayed a U.S. maritime operation in the Strait of Hormuz as a highly secret mission that moved millions of barrels of oil under Iran’s nose. U.S. officials later offered a more restrained account of what actually took place.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump told reporters: “I can say it now. Something you didn’t know. Did you know we were pulling millions of barrels of oil out? Nobody knew that. Do you know who didn’t know? Iran — until now.”
He added that the United States moved 22 ships overnight “without lights,” claiming Iranian forces were unable to detect them after U.S. strikes had degraded their capabilities.
Details
• A senior U.S. military official said Trump was referring to a U.S.-led effort to guide commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The operation was conducted with a degree of secrecy. Ships escorted by U.S. forces reportedly turned off their transponders while crossing the narrow waterway to reduce the risk of detection.
• The official said the operation was not a surprise to Iran and had already been reported publicly.
• The New York Times reported last month that U.S. Central Command had escorted roughly 70 commercial vessels through the strait.
• According to the official, more than 200 ships have now completed the transit under the program over the past month.
• U.S. officials declined to disclose the types of vessels involved or the exact routes used.
• One official indicated that at least some voyages followed routes closer to Oman than to Iran’s coastline, reducing the risk of attack.
What to watch
The episode highlights the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and Washington’s efforts to keep oil shipments moving despite regional tensions. Attention will now focus on whether the U.S. continues escort operations and how Iran responds in the weeks ahead.
