U.S. Navy Escorts Tankers as Iran’s Hold on Hormuz Weakens

Washington — The United States is quietly expanding its military role in the Strait of Hormuz, escorting commercial tankers as Tehran’s ability to control the vital waterway appears to be slipping, according to new reports. The shift comes amid rising tensions in the region, where Iran has long used the strait—through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil passes—as leverage in its standoff with the West. But recent U.S. naval deployments suggest that leverage is cracking. U.S. warships have begun accompanying tankers that lack their own naval protection, especially those flagged to Gulf states, the reports say. The move is designed to deter Iranian fast-attack boats and seizures, which have increased in recent months. Until now, Washington had relied on diplomatic pressure and occasional patrols. But the new escort missions mark a more direct, on-water response. The U.S. military has not officially confirmed the operations, but multiple defense officials have described the change in posture. Iran has not publicly responded to the reports. However, analysts note that any reduction in Tehran’s ability to disrupt shipping would weaken its main bargaining chip in nuclear negotiations. The strait remains open, and oil flows have not been interrupted. But the shift in U.S. tactics signals that the balance of power in the Gulf is changing—one tanker at a time.