US Energy Secretary acknowledged Tuesday evening that Iran has not yet reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and that oil tankers continue to transit with assistance from the US military, according to Amichai Stein (i24NEWS). The admission comes despite weeks of conflicting claims over the strategic waterway's status since the IRGC declared a closure.
US Energy Secretary acknowledged Tuesday evening that Iran has not yet reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and that oil tankers continue to transit through the waterway with the assistance of the US military, according to a report by Amichai Stein (i24NEWS). The acknowledgment contradicts weeks of competing claims between Washington and Tehran over the status of the strategic strait since the IRGC declared a closure in early June.
The admission marks a significant shift from earlier US assertions that maritime traffic was flowing normally. The Zioneer previously reported the US military's naval siege on Iranian ports remaining in effect (June 15), conflicting claims over the strait's status (June 11, June 21), and Iran's persistence in restricting passage despite warnings from President Trump (June 25). On June 12, the US Energy Secretary had stated that no Iranian crude oil would exit the strait.
What remains open: the Energy Secretary did not specify whether Iran is actively preventing tanker passage, or whether the reliance on US Navy escorts reflects Iranian non-cooperation rather than a physical blockade. No indication was given of any change in US operational posture or timeline for a diplomatic resolution.
- StrongIranian outlets claim Strait of Hormuz remains closed, contradicting US denials
- DevelopingUS Energy Secretary: No Iranian crude will leave the Strait of Hormuz
- StrongUS official says shipping continues transiting Strait of Hormuz
- StrongTrump says tankers are sailing out of Strait of Hormuz, contradicting Iranian reports
Source and signal
- Internal intake