Treasury Secretary Scott Besant reported that the US Navy would begin moving ships through the Strait of Hormuz as soon as “militarily feasible”. sky News On Thursday.
Besant said in that interview, “It was always in our planning, that there was the possibility that the U.S. Navy or perhaps an international coalition would take over the oil tankers.”
He said, “I believe that as soon as militarily possible, ships will be moved from there with the U.S. Navy and perhaps an international coalition.”
Besant’s comments come as the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed to shipping due to the war against Iran by the US and Israel that began on February 28. The strait is the world’s most sensitive chokepoint for oil tankers, and its closure has sent crude prices soaring.
The Trump administration, for more than a week, has been suggesting that US Navy ships escort oil tankers through the strait without actually doing so.
Earlier Thursday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC in an interview that the Navy is not prepared to move oil tankers through the strait.
“It will happen relatively soon but it may not happen now,” Wright said. “We are simply not prepared. Right now all of our military assets are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities.”
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he believes CEOs of major oil companies should send tankers through the narrow strait. The US government also said this on Wednesday Chubb Said it would act as lead underwriter for a federal government-led program to insure ships transiting the strait.
Besant said Thursday that the U.S. conducted “months, weeks of scenario analysis for this war” related to its impact on oil shipping.
We will do so “as soon as it is possible to ensure safe passage for oil tankers with naval escort,” he said.
Besant said, “We have complete control over the sky.”
“They have no air force, the (Iranian) navy is sunk literally and figuratively,” he said.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said earlier Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as a “tool to exert pressure on the enemy.”