President Trump Claims United States Maintains Total Control Over the Strait of Hormuz Amidst Varying Oil Flow Estimates
President Trump declared on Monday that the United States holds total control over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the nation is successfully extracting millions of barrels of oil per week. The administration announced that oil is flowing freely through the waterway, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright stating that approximately 9 million barrels of oil move through the strait daily. However, independent market trackers offer a more conservative view. While the administration maintains that its data is accurate, analysts from firms like Kpler and Commodity Context suggest the daily volume is likely between 5 million and 7 million barrels. These experts note that Iran has maintained significant leverage over the waterway, and many ships are currently using the Omani route to avoid Iranian demands. Despite the administration's optimistic projections, global crude prices recently increased to approximately $90 a barrel. This discrepancy between official government figures and private data highlights the ongoing challenge of tracking oil flows in a conflict zone where many vessels operate covertly to avoid detection.
Sources
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U.S. conducting stealth operation to transport oil through Hormuz
Axios
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Iran has lost significant control of the Strait of Hormuz
CNN
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How the U.S. Navy Is Helping Get Oil Through the Strait of Hormuz
The New York Times
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Iran’s Attacks on Ships in Hormuz Mount, Testing U.S. Military Restraint
WSJ
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Trump’s rosy Hormuz claims collide with tanker data
Politico