U.S. secures stealth corridor for oil transit through Strait of Hormuz

The United States has established a protected maritime corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, enabling the continued transport of oil amidst ongoing regional conflict. According to U.S. officials and satellite tracking data from Kpler, this stealth operation utilizes a southern shipping lane along the coast of Oman to bypass Iranian attempts to restrict navigation.

Since the operation began several weeks ago, 15 to 20 oil tankers have been moving through this channel nightly, transporting approximately 10 million barrels of oil per day. This volume represents roughly half of the total oil capacity that moved through the strait prior to the war. By utilizing this UN-approved route, which Tehran strongly opposes, over 80% of recent commercial traffic has successfully avoided Iranian interference under the escort of U.S. naval forces.

This initiative aims to stabilize global energy markets, which have faced significant volatility due to disruptions in the Persian Gulf. While the current volume remains below pre-war levels, the operation marks a shift in regional dynamics, limiting Iran's ability to dictate maritime terms. Diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked, leaving the military-led maritime escort as the primary mechanism for ensuring supply flow.