Amid escalating conflict in the Gulf region, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed the US Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure global energy supplies continued flowing, but later deleted the statement. In a now deleted post on X on Tuesday, the US Energy Secretary said the operation had taken place amid rising tensions in the Gulf following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
“President Trump is maintaining stability of global energy during the military operations against Iran,” Wright wrote. “The US Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets.”
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes, with about 20 per cent of global oil and a large share of LNG shipments passing through the narrow waterway. Shipping through the strait has been disrupted since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28.
However, the White House pushed back against the claim. Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denied that the US has escorted any oil tankers or vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. A US official later told Reuters that the US military had not escorted any ships through the strait so far, contradicting the energy secretary’s earlier claim.
IRAN DENIES ESCORT CLAIM
Iran also rejected Chris Wright’s statement. Commenting on the claim, a spokesperson for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied that any oil tanker had been escorted through the strait by US forces.
“Any movement of the US fleet and its allies will be stopped by our missiles and drones,” Alimohammad Naini said in comments carried by Iranian state media.
“The claim that an oil tanker escorted by the US terrorist army passed through the Strait of Hormuz is a complete lie,” Naini added. Iran has repeatedly warned that it could target vessels passing through the strategic waterway if the conflict escalates further.
TRUMP THREATENS HORMUZ TAKEOVER
The warning came a day after US President Donald Trump threatened harder action over the strategic passage.
“They have shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute, or it’s going to be the end of that country. If they do anything bad, that would be the end of Iran, and you’d never hear the name again,” Trump said as the conflict entered its second week.
“The Strait of Hormuz is open now,” Trump falsely claimed, adding that he was “thinking about taking it over”. The US President had earlier warned that Iran would be hit “20 times harder” if it disrupted oil shipments through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a pressure point in the conflict. The prolonged closure of the waterway could led to hike in oil prices.
With inputs from agencies
