WASHINGTON — The U.S. military escorted 40 commercial vessels carrying about 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday as American and Iranian forces exchanged another round of attacks, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the operation. The convoy represented the largest movement of oil through the strategic waterway since the conflict began more than six months ago, CNN reported.
U.S. forces used aircraft, warships and surveillance systems to protect the vessels while confronting Iranian drones and anti-ship threats, the officials said. At the same time, U.S. Central Command carried out strikes against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps targets, including air defense systems, radar installations, maritime facilities, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites. CENTCOM said the strikes followed attempted attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. personnel.
President Donald Trump has defended the renewed attacks as a response to Iranian actions around Hormuz and warned Tehran against further retaliation. Iran, meanwhile, has responded with missile and drone attacks against U.S. forces and regional targets, while Iranian officials have accused Washington of escalating the conflict. The exchanges have raised fears that fighting centered on the waterway could spread further across the Middle East.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important energy routes. About 20.9 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products passed through it each day during the first half of 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Traffic fell sharply after the conflict intensified, making the success or failure of military escort operations important to oil-importing economies in Asia, Europe and elsewhere.
American naval protection of tankers in the Persian Gulf has historical precedent. During the Iran-Iraq War, the United States launched Operation Earnest Will in 1987 to escort reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers threatened by attacks and mines. The operation became the largest U.S. naval convoy effort since World War II and eventually contributed to direct confrontations between American and Iranian forces.
Despite Tuesday’s large convoy, the outlook for commercial shipping remains uncertain. Iran has expanded restrictions on vessels it says have violated navigation rules, while shipping companies continue to weigh the risks of missiles, drones and mines even when U.S. escorts are available. Renewed fighting has also contributed to higher oil prices and volatility in global financial markets, underscoring how events in the narrow strait can quickly affect fuel costs, inflation and economic conditions far beyond the Middle East.
