War of Words Between the US and Iran Over the Strait of Hormuz

Tensions in West Asia have intensified once again after Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US strikes. However, the United States maintains that the vital waterway remains under its influence. Amid these developments, US President Donald Trump made startling claims, revealing that the US carried out a secret operation to transport crude oil through the region without detection.

Speaking at a White House press briefing, Trump stated that millions of barrels of Crude Oil were moved in a covert mission involving 22 ships that passed through Hormuz overnight without lights or radar detection. His remarks triggered confusion over the details of the operation. Later, a senior US military official clarified that Trump was referring to escort operations conducted by the US Navy to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels. Reports indicate that the US Central Command escorted nearly 70 ships last month, while around 200 vessels crossed the strait recently, compared to nearly 3,000 ships per month before the escalation.