Iran proved it can close the Strait of Hormuz, but the U.S. is showing it can punch open a hole

Key Points:

• The U.S. has been covertly assisting ships to cross the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast, providing naval protection to counter Iran’s control and attacks, leading to a gradual increase in traffic through this critical oil passage.
• Energy Secretary Chris Wright and President Donald Trump confirmed a secret U.S. military operation has enabled the movement of over 100 million barrels of oil, helping to ease pressure on global oil markets amid the conflict.
• U.S. Central Command and senior officials have publicly asserted control over the strait, emphasizing safe passage routes and military defenses to counter Iran’s attempts to impose tolls and restrict navigation.
• Iran maintains a competing shipping lane along its coast, demanding tolls and engaging in frequent clashes with U.S. forces, including drone attacks and downing a U.S. Apache helicopter, while the U.S. responds with strikes on Iranian missile sites and fast boats.
• The U.S.-protected shipping strategy includes ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Gulf of Oman, enabling countries like Kuwait and the UAE to resume exports despite Iran’s blockade, with Kuwait notably restarting crude sales to Asian refiners for the first time since the war began.