Trump claims more than 100 million barrels of oil, 200 ships have safely made way through Strait of Hormuz
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Key Points:
- President Trump announced that the U.S. military conducted a secret mission last month to escort oil tankers and commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in over 100 million barrels of oil and more than 200 ships safely passing through the area.
- Trump described the operation as a "wildly successful effort" demonstrating U.S. control over the Strait of Hormuz, contrasting it with Iranian influence amid ongoing tensions and the strait's closure to regular commercial shipping.
- The U.S. has been coordinating safe passage for vessels through the strait by providing navigational information via U.S. Central Command, rather than reviving the previously short-lived Project Freedom escort program.
- Reports indicate that many vessels have turned off their transponders to avoid detection, and the U.S. Navy has been assisting ships' navigation, although ABC News has not independently verified the exact figures Trump cited.
- Trump revealed the mission publicly now because Iran had apparently discovered the operation, which he had previously kept secret to maintain its effectiveness.