The United States Navy has declined near-daily requests from the international shipping industry to provide military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war on Iran, citing an extremely high risk of attacks in the strategic waterway. According to sources familiar with the matter, the Navy has told industry representatives during regular briefings that escort operations are not currently feasible due to the escalating security threats in the region.
The assessments signal that disruptions to Middle Eastern oil exports could continue for the foreseeable future and reveal a divergence from statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said Washington is prepared to escort tankers through the vital shipping route whenever necessary. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important chokepoints for global energy supplies, and the halt in shipping has had immediate consequences for international markets.
Shipping traffic through the narrow waterway has nearly stopped since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran more than a week ago. The disruption has effectively blocked the movement of roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, triggering a surge in global crude prices to levels not seen since 2022. Hundreds of vessels are reportedly anchored in nearby waters waiting for security conditions to improve.
Tensions escalated further after a senior official from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly declared that the Strait of Hormuz was closed and warned that Iranian forces would fire on any vessel attempting to pass through the area. Iranian media reported the statement last week, and several ships have already been struck during the crisis, increasing fears among shipping companies and insurers.
Industry representatives say the U.S. Navy has continued to hold regular calls with shipping and oil companies to assess the situation, but officials have repeatedly said escort missions cannot begin until the immediate threat of attacks diminishes. The requests for naval protection have reportedly been made almost daily during the briefings, reflecting the urgency within the global shipping sector to resume operations.
Despite the Navy’s cautious position, President Trump said earlier this week that U.S. forces are prepared to act when necessary. Speaking during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, he said American naval forces and their partners would escort tankers through the strait if conditions required it. Military leaders have also confirmed that planning for such operations is underway.
General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon that the U.S. military is reviewing multiple options to secure shipping routes should an order be given. However, officials confirmed that no U.S. naval escorts have yet been carried out in the strait. Earlier remarks suggesting that a tanker had been escorted were later withdrawn by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who deleted a post on social media referencing the claim.
The situation has raised alarms across global energy markets. Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco warned that prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could have catastrophic consequences for global oil supplies, underscoring the strategic importance of the passage for international trade.
Security experts caution that safeguarding the waterway will be extremely challenging, even if a multinational naval coalition is formed. Analysts note that Iran possesses several asymmetric capabilities, including sea mines, fast attack boats, and inexpensive drones capable of overwhelming larger naval vessels.
Adel Bakawan, director of the European Institute for Studies on the Middle East and North Africa, said no single country or coalition currently has the capacity to fully secure the strait under current conditions. He warned that the risks remain severe as long as Iran retains the ability to disrupt traffic along its extensive coastline.
Recent incidents have illustrated those dangers. According to initial assessments from Iraqi port security officials, Iran last week used a remote-controlled explosive boat to damage a crude oil tanker anchored in Iraqi waters. Maritime security specialists say such tactics demonstrate how easily commercial shipping could be targeted even under military protection.
Some security sources say that fully securing the strait might require control of large sections of Iran’s coastline, a step that would dramatically escalate the conflict. They also warn that a limited number of escort vessels could be quickly overwhelmed by coordinated attacks involving swarms of fast boats or drones.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has intensified its warnings toward Tehran, threatening stronger military action unless global shipping can resume through the strait. U.S. officials say American forces have already targeted Iranian vessels suspected of laying sea mines and facilities believed to be used for storing them, in an effort to reduce the threat to international maritime traffic.
