USA to Begin Escorting Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz by End of March

The US Navy may begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz by the end of March.

This was announced by Energy Secretary Chris Wright on CNBC on Thursday, according to gCaptain.

Currently, US military resources are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and weapons production.

According to Wright, the reorientation to protect shipping will take place in the near future, as the country is not yet ready to provide full escort.

Earlier, the minister posted on social media about the alleged successful passage of an oil tanker through the strait, but the White House later refuted this statement and deleted the post.

Why is escorting through the Strait of Hormuz necessary?

On March 5, Iran used a naval drone for the first time to attack a tanker near Kuwait. The strike hit the lower part of the ship’s hull near the waterline, causing a significant hole in the hull.

About 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas passes through this strategic route.