US Opens Southern Hormuz Route to Move 10 Million Barrels Daily

The United States military has discreetly opened a route through the southern channel of the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate the daily passage of oil-laden vessels, according to US officials cited by Axios. The operation currently allows about 10 million barrels of oil to pass through per day, a significant step toward restoring normalcy in a waterway that carries 20% of global crude and was closed by Iran following the start of the war on February 28. The disclosure comes amid heightened tensions, with President Donald Trump declaring the strait a 'new territory of the United States,' a move reported by El País. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is deployed in the region, and its crew faces harsh conditions, as noted in the lead article. The reopening of this route is critical for global energy markets, as the strait is a chokepoint for oil shipments. The US military's actions are part of a broader strategy to counter Iranian threats and ensure the free flow of oil, despite the ongoing conflict.

Global Impact

Economically, the restored oil flow through Hormuz stabilizes global supply, reducing the risk of a price spike that could fuel inflation worldwide. Politically, Trump's declaration of the strait as US territory escalates tensions with Iran and could provoke a broader geopolitical confrontation.