Has the US really carried out a secret mission to get oil through Hormuz?
Summary
President Donald Trump said the US has been secretly helping oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid Iran’s blockade, allowing Gulf countries to export oil. Reports show some tankers switch off their tracking systems and receive military support to move oil undetected, but it is unclear how many shipments have actually reached the market.Key Facts
- President Trump claimed the US escorted about 200 oil tankers out of the Strait of Hormuz with their tracking devices turned off.
- The US Energy Secretary said the military helped some oil get through but was not aware of the full scope of the secret mission.
- Tankers switch off Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters to avoid detection while passing through the strait.
- The US uses drones, autonomous vehicles, and aircraft to monitor and escort tankers safely near Oman’s coast.
- Ships transfer oil to other vessels in the Gulf of Oman to avoid being tracked during export.
- Before the crisis, roughly 138 ships crossed the strait each day; during the conflict, only about that many crossed in a whole month.
- About 25% of tankers in the Gulf at the war’s start have managed to leave the region, carrying oil and gas.
- Analysts say it is hard to confirm the exact amount of oil exported due to tracking challenges, but estimates roughly agree with observed crude flows.
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