WASHINGTON — U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz continue to move, with the critical waterway remaining open despite heightened tensions in the Middle East and concerns over possible disruptions to global energy supplies.
Wright said U.S. officials were monitoring maritime traffic and that crude oil flows through the strait had continued with the support of security measures. He previously told the Reuters Global Energy Forum that tankers were moving through the passage and that about 20 million barrels of crude had exited the waterway in a 24-hour period.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major transit route for global energy markets, carrying a significant share of internationally traded oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any prolonged interruption to traffic through the narrow waterway could affect supply availability and prices worldwide.
Wright’s comments came as energy markets continued to respond to uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Iran tensions. Oil prices have fluctuated as traders assessed the risk of disruptions to shipments, with concerns over regional security contributing to volatility in crude markets.
The U.S. military has said the waterway remains open and that American forces are monitoring conditions to help maintain commercial passage. U.S. Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said traffic was continuing and that U.S. forces were working to ensure the situation remained stable.
Iran has previously made claims regarding control over or restrictions on the strait, but U.S. officials have disputed those assertions and said no single country controls the international waterway.
Energy analysts have continued to watch shipping activity closely because disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz can quickly affect crude supplies, fuel prices and global economic conditions. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has said that disruptions affecting oil flows through the strait can contribute to price pressures, depending on the duration and scale of any interruption.
As of Monday, Wright said oil movement through the Strait of Hormuz was continuing, while U.S. officials continued to monitor commercial shipping activity and regional security developments.
