Oil tanker

The U.S. military has significantly increased the flow of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz since May, according to reporting cited in a Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial. Daily crude flows through the strait, which fell to nearly zero at the start of the Iran conflict from a pre-war level of about 20 million barrels, have recovered to between 5 million and 10 million barrels.

U.S. forces have escorted tankers along routes near Oman using ships, helicopters and aircraft to intercept attacks, helping more than 1,000 vessels transit the strait, per Central Command. The operation also supports empty tankers entering the Gulf to load oil before exiting. Analysts describe the effort as a notable success that has helped limit oil price increases and undercuts Iranian claims of controlling the passage. It remains unclear how long the U.S. can sustain the operation as Iran pursues a war of attrition.