US Secretly Guides Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran Tensions
The US military has been secretly guiding commercial tankers through the Strait of Hormuz at night to keep oil exports flowing despite Iran's closure of the strategic waterway.
According to two US officials, this operation allows for 15-20 tankers to move through a southern channel each night under US military guidance. This has enabled the transportation of nearly 10 million barrels of oil per day, roughly half the volume that passed through before the war.
The previously unreported operation has provided a crucial channel for keeping oil exports moving at a time when the conflict has severely disrupted one of the world's most important energy routes. US Air Force fighter jets are also providing protection against Iranian drones and cruise missiles as the vessels make the crossing.
Iran's ability to monitor traffic weakened after a two-week US Central Command campaign, which degraded its radar and maritime surveillance capabilities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now relies on restored radar systems and 'spotters' operating from IRGC fast boats to track traffic, but this has limited visibility over the southern channel.