US Energy Secretary Retracts Claim of First Tanker Escort Through Hormuz

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed American forces had successfully escorted oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, then deleted the statement minutes later, sending oil prices on a volatile swing as the Trump administration faces pressure from surging crude costs amid the Iran conflict.

Wright posted on X on the 10th (local time): "President Trump is maintaining global energy stability even during military operations against Iran. The US Navy has successfully escorted oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure continued oil supply to global markets." AFP assessed this as "the first escort operation since the US-Israel war began."

Wright deleted the post within minutes. In the interim, international oil prices plunged before recovering their losses.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed at a briefing that day: "I can confirm that the US Navy has not escorted any tankers or vessels at this point." Several US media outlets, citing officials and sources, also reported that US forces had not yet conducted tanker escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also denied Wright's claims. According to Russia's Sputnik, IRGC spokesman Ali Mohammad Naeini said: "During the war, not a single American vessel will dare approach the Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, or Strait of Hormuz." IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri posted on X: "Claims that US military forces escorted tankers through the Strait of Hormuz are false. All movements by the US Navy and its allies in the Strait of Hormuz will be blocked by Iranian missiles and underwater drones."

The Trump administration announced on the 3rd that it would deploy naval forces to escort tankers carrying Middle Eastern crude through the strait after Iranian forces effectively blockaded the Hormuz passage following the start of operations against Iran, causing oil prices to surge.

On the 9th, the administration warned it would launch attacks 20 times stronger than previous strikes if Iran blocks oil shipments within the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, handles approximately 20% of global crude oil shipments, making it a critical chokepoint for international energy transport.