U.S. Launches New Round of Strikes on Iran in Escalating Middle East Tensions

US President Donald Trump said the American military carried out what he described as a “secret mission” to help commercial oil tankers and other ships move through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he had directed the military last month to support shipping in the waterway and claimed the effort had now helped more than 100 million barrels of oil pass through the strait and into the open market. He also said more than 200 commercial vessels had safely traveled through the passage.

Trump made similar remarks earlier in the Oval Office, telling reporters that millions of barrels of oil had been taken out of the region without Iran knowing. He said Iran was unaware of the operation “until right now,” suggesting the mission had been kept confidential.

The claim comes amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit chokepoints. Before the war, an estimated 15 million to 20 million barrels of crude oil and roughly 125 to 140 ships moved through the strait each day. The 100 million barrels Trump said were assisted through the waterway since Iran closed the strait on April 18 amount to less than a week’s worth of crude oil flow at pre-war levels.

The Strait of Hormuz has long been a strategic flashpoint because of its role in global energy supplies. Any disruption in the narrow waterway can affect oil shipments and global prices. Trump’s comments suggest the US has been working behind the scenes to keep maritime trade moving despite the conflict and the closure announced by Iran after airstrikes by the United States and Israel.

The president did not provide operational details about the reported mission, and the White House has not publicly released additional information. His statement framed the effort as a major success for American military support to international shipping, though the volume he cited remains far below normal traffic in the strait before the war.

The remarks are likely to draw attention from energy markets, foreign policy observers, and governments relying on oil exports through the Gulf region. The situation underscores the continuing strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the risk that regional conflict poses to global trade and energy security.