The US military has reportedly created a shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz to transport millions of barrels of oil daily, coinciding with ongoing tensions regarding Iran. This operation began several weeks ago, involving 15 to 20 oil tankers that navigate the strait each night, specifically through a southern channel adjacent to Oman’s coastline.

Current reports indicate that approximately 10 million barrels of oil are now exported daily, which is about half of the volume preceding the conflict. This operation does not solely focus on escorting tankers; it enables empty vessels to travel from the Arabian Sea through Hormuz to Gulf ports for oil collection before returning through the strait.

The coordination of this task is managed by a US military task force stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in collaboration with partners from the Gulf region. Tankers are organised into a schedule for both inbound and outbound convoys, ensuring safe transit under US military direction.

Military Support and Iranian Response

According to US officials, a recent two-week campaign by the US Central Command significantly impaired Iran’s radar and maritime surveillance capabilities. The US Air Force is providing protective measures against potential drone and cruise missile threats from Iranian forces.

It has been suggested that Iran’s capacity to monitor tanker movement has been diminished, relying mainly on a limited number of restored radar systems and personnel on small vessels from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Despite attempts by Iranian forces to target shipping routes, it has been reported that numerous missiles and drones have been intercepted by US military forces.

In the preceding two weeks, about 15 to 20 tankers have traversed the strait nightly, with average oil exports nearing 10 million barrels. On certain days, exports have surged to between 15 million and 20 million barrels, as noted by US authorities.

Implications for Global Oil Supply

This operation has been instrumental in alleviating one of the significant economic impacts of the conflict—the disturbance of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route. Despite this increase in exports, levels remain below those recorded before the outbreak of hostilities.

President Donald Trump commented on the situation, asserting that there is a substantial volume of oil exiting the Strait of Hormuz and indicated that the US is not currently engaged in negotiations with Iran regarding the ongoing conflict. The extensive details surrounding this US operation were not disclosed in earlier reports.

Since the onset of the Iran war on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a critical flashpoint, with traffic consistently disrupted amid competing claims regarding the waterway’s accessibility. It is reported that only six commodity vessels managed to pass through on a recent Tuesday, signalling a significant reduction in normal shipping activity.

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