U.S. Not Yet Ready to Escort Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran continues attacks on commercial shipping, with two additional vessels reportedly set ablaze in Iraqi waters.

The U.S. Navy is not yet prepared to begin escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC)

In response, the U.S. government is considering protective naval escorts for oil tankers, Thomas Newdick reported for The War Zone.

However, the U.S. Navy is not yet prepared to begin escorting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Chris Wright, the U.S. secretary of energy, who spoke in an interview with CNBC.

“It’ll happen relatively soon, but it can’t happen now,” Wright said of the proposed escort mission.

“We’re simply not ready. All of our military assets right now are focused on destroying Iran’s offensive capabilities and the manufacturing industry that supports them.”

Iran’s newly installed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to keep the strait closed as long as the conflict continues.

Wright said the U.S. Navy could be ready to escort tankers through the strait by the end of the month.