By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald - The world’s most important oil chokepoint may soon be guarded by U.S. warships. The Trump administration says naval escorts for commercial tankers are coming. And if the Strait of Hormuz becomes a battlefield, the economic shock could reach every American gas pump.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Friday that the United States is preparing to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran intensify following U.S. and Israeli military strikes. The announcement signals a potential shift toward a wartime maritime security posture in one of the most strategically sensitive waterways on Earth.

“My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the U.S. Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through,” Bessent said during an interview with Sky News.

The comments come as oil markets, insurers, and global shipping companies scramble to assess the fallout from rapidly escalating hostilities in the Persian Gulf. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil exports move through the narrow strait between Iran and Oman, making it one of the most critical arteries of the global economy.

For the moment, shipping has not completely halted. Bessent noted that some vessels are still passing through the strait, including Iranian tankers and ships flying Chinese flags, suggesting the waterway has not yet been fully mined.

“There are, in fact, tankers coming through now,” he said. “So, we know that they have not mined the straits.”

Still, the fact that naval escorts are under consideration reflects growing concern inside Washington that the situation could deteriorate rapidly.

At one point during the interview, Bessent reportedly paused for two hours after being summoned to the White House Situation Room, underscoring the urgency surrounding the crisis.

When he returned and was asked directly whether tanker escorts had been discussed in the meeting, Bessent offered a cryptic reply.

“Your words, not mine.”

Other administration officials have signaled that preparations are underway but not yet complete. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC that the United States expects to implement escort operations soon, though current military priorities remain focused on degrading Iran’s offensive capabilities.

“It’ll happen relatively soon but it can’t happen now,” Wright said. “All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supplies their offensive capabilities.”

The comment reflects a broader military campaign that intensified this week following a series of U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure.

President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that U.S. forces conducted a major bombing raid on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal.

“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East and totally obliterated every military target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,”Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president emphasized that American forces deliberately avoided destroying the island’s oil infrastructure — a decision he described as an act of restraint.

“Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the world has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island,” Trump wrote.

Trump added that the situation could change if Iran attempts to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“If Iran or any other country interferes with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” he warned, “that decision could change.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian government has issued its own warnings. Iranian officials have suggested that oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel if the conflict expands or if shipping routes are disrupted.

Those warnings already appear to be influencing energy markets.

Oil and gas prices have climbed sharply as military operations continue. In the United States, the average price of gasoline has risen to approximately $3.63 per gallon — roughly 60 cents higher than a month ago.

Energy analysts say the threat to shipping lanes is now one of the most closely watched risks in global markets.

Even limited attacks on commercial vessels could trigger cascading effects through the maritime insurance industry, shipping logistics networks, and global energy supply chains.

Earlier this week, Iranian forces reportedly launched attacks against three vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz. While Tehran has insisted it does not intend to close the waterway entirely, the incidents have heightened fears that the region could slide into a wider maritime confrontation.

For Washington, escorting tankers would represent a familiar but risky strategy. Similar naval protection missions were carried out during the 1980s “Tanker War” phase of the Iran-Iraq conflict, when U.S. warships escorted Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Gulf.

That mission eventually led to direct naval clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces.

Today’s geopolitical environment is even more complex. Any escort operation could involve not only American warships but also vessels from allied nations seeking to protect global energy flows.

The stakes are enormous.

If shipping remains open, global markets may stabilize.
If tanker attacks escalate, oil prices could spike dramatically.
And if the Strait of Hormuz becomes militarized, the consequences could ripple through every economy on Earth.

What remains unclear is whether the current confrontation represents a temporary crisis in maritime security — or the early stages of a much larger conflict centered on control of the world’s most vital energy corridor.

The next phase of this story may reveal whether Washington’s tanker escort strategy stabilizes the region — or pulls the United States deeper into a widening Gulf war.

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About the Author

Samuel A. Lopez is an investigative journalist and legal analyst for USA Herald. His reporting focuses on institutional accountability, litigation strategy, financial exposure, and the intersection of power and public trust. He has over two decades of experience in legal research and forensic document analysis.