Oil Tankers Navigate the Strait of Hormuz Under US Military Protection

Several tankers carrying approximately seven million barrels of oil and gas are preparing to cross the Strait of Hormuz under the military protection of the United States. According to the maritime tracking platform TankerTrackers.com, this movement coincides with a recent surge in shipping traffic within the Gulf region.

The platform reported that 17 ship-to-ship transfer operations involving oil and gas vessels were recently identified in the Gulf of Oman, with these transfers estimated to total around 24 million barrels.

Prior to these movements, the US military conducted extensive mine-clearing operations to ensure safe navigation through the strategic waterway. US Central Command stated that over 200 suspicious objects were removed from the critical trade route, with 11 confirmed as actual mines. Officials noted that the internationally recognized shipping lanes are now free from Iranian sea mines, leading to a gradual increase in vessel traffic, although numbers remain lower than typical averages.

Meanwhile, this week witnessed severe military clashes between Washington and Tehran, following airstrikes on Iranian military installations and subsequent retaliatory drone and missile attacks targeting regional bases housing military personnel in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Iraq.