Trump’s ‘Secret Mission’ to Ferry Oil Past Iran Was Widely Disclosed
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- President Trump announced a covert U.S. operation to move millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming Iran was unaware until his disclosure.
- The operation involved guiding commercial vessels, with transponders turned off, through the strait to avoid detection, but it was not a secret to Iran as previously reported by The New York Times.
- Over 200 ships have been escorted through the strait in just over a month, compared to the usual 3,000 ships per month before the conflict, with routes likely closer to Oman to avoid Iranian attacks.
- U.S. officials have not disclosed specific vessel types or exact routes, citing security concerns, while President Trump later claimed the mission delivered over 100 million barrels of oil to the market, a figure not independently verified.