The United States military has quietly established a protected maritime corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, enabling millions of barrels of oil to move through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints as commercial shipping gradually resumes following the war with Iran.
According to Axios, the operation has been running for several weeks and is designed to ensure the safe passage of oil tankers through the strait, where commercial traffic had been severely disrupted by missile, drone and naval threats during the conflict.
US officials said 15 to 20 oil tankers now transit the corridor each night along the southern channel near Oman’s coastline, carrying an estimated 10 million barrels of crude oil per day. That represents roughly half of the volume that moved through the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict disrupted global shipping.
The operation extends beyond escorting outbound tankers. US forces are also facilitating the safe entry of empty tankers from the Gulf of Oman into the Persian Gulf, where they load crude oil before returning through the protected corridor under coordinated security measures.
The mission is reportedly coordinated by the US military in partnership with regional allies and US Central Command (CENTCOM). Tankers travel in scheduled inbound and outbound convoys, while US Air Force fighter aircraft provide aerial protection against potential missile and drone attacks during their transit.
US officials said the corridor became possible after a military campaign that significantly degraded Iran’s radar and surveillance capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz. They said the operation reduced Tehran’s ability to monitor and target commercial shipping, although Iranian patrol boats and some restored surveillance systems continue to operate in the area.
Despite the new security arrangements, officials acknowledged that several commercial vessels have still come under attack in recent weeks. They said US and allied forces have intercepted or prevented a number of attempted attacks before they caused significant damage.
President Donald Trump said large volumes of oil are once again moving through the Strait of Hormuz and argued that Iran no longer controls maritime traffic through the waterway. Iranian officials have rejected that assessment, insisting that Iran continues to oversee security in the strait and remains capable of protecting its interests in the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically significant waterways, linking the Persian Gulf with global markets. Before the conflict, nearly 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports passed through the narrow shipping lane, making any disruption a major concern for international energy supplies, shipping costs and global markets.
