The US Navy is providing limited case-by-case assistance to commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional tensions.
The United States Navy has been quietly assisting commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, according to US military officials cited by The Wall Street Journal. A Greek supertanker carrying around two million barrels of crude oil was recently escorted through the waterway off the coast of Oman with US Navy assistance.
The vessel had been stranded in the Middle East Gulf since early March and is now en route to India to deliver its cargo. Earlier this month, US forces had attempted to coordinate safe passage for ships through the waterway under an initiative known as Project Freedom, however that effort was suspended after Iran launched attacks on vessels in the region, while Saudi Arabia also restricted US access to its military bases and airspace.
A spokesperson for US Central Command clarified that the initiative has not resumed, stating that reports suggesting otherwise were inaccurate. Despite the suspension, officials indicated that naval support operations are continuing on a limited, case-by-case basis, with the US Navy expected to assist around a dozen vessels including supertankers and container ships over the coming days.
Fresh diplomatic developments have also emerged alongside the maritime security efforts. According to a report by Japan’s Nikkei, citing a Middle East diplomatic source, the United States and Iran are discussing a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz around 30 days after any agreement to end hostilities is reached, during which Iran would begin clearing mines from the waterway before allowing commercial shipping from all countries to pass freely, while Tehran would stop collecting transit fees.
Nikkei further reported that a ceasefire agreed in early April could be extended by 60 days, during which broader negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme would take place. The report also noted that Tehran had effectively closed the strait following US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28, trapping thousands of vessels in the Gulf. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had instructed his negotiators not to rush into any agreement with Iran, signalling cautious optimism over talks that have yet to produce a breakthrough.
Source: money control
