Scott Bessent: US helps move up to 17M barrels of oil daily through Hormuz
Summary
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that US forces are facilitating the movement of between 10 million and 17 million barrels of oil daily through the Strait of Hormuz, despite ongoing attacks on tankers and a blockade of Iranian ports. Bessent highlighted that while Iranian drones pose a threat to vessels, the US Navy is actively blocking such attacks, ensuring continued oil shipments. Before the conflict, approximately 20 million barrels passed through the strait each day, with about 3 million now rerouted through alternative pathways. This operation coincides with Washington's "Operation Economic Outcast," which aims to intensify economic pressure on Iran amid a backdrop of regional instability and targeted sanctions against Iranian energy exports.