The United States is comfortable with limited shipping continuing through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing tensions in the region, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
Speaking about the situation in the strategically vital waterway, Bessent indicated that Washington’s current position allows some vessels to continue transiting the strait even as the conflict involving Iran raises concerns over maritime security.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, with a significant share of global crude exports passing through the narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Energy markets have been closely watching the situation because any major disruption in the strait could sharply affect global oil supplies and push prices higher.
Bessent suggested that maintaining at least partial shipping activity through the waterway is important for global energy stability, even as security risks remain elevated.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions involving Iran and its regional adversaries, which have raised fears that the strait could become a flashpoint affecting international trade and energy flows.
Analysts say that even limited restrictions or disruptions in the waterway can have significant consequences for global markets because roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day.
Officials have not provided detailed guidance on how shipping will be managed in the coming weeks, but the situation remains under close monitoring by governments, energy companies, and shipping operators worldwide.
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