Trump Pushes Navy Escorts Through Hormuz, But Experts Doubt It Will Unblock the Strait

President Trump said the U.S. Navy could escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if needed to restore flows, but analysts say even coordinated escorts won’t quickly clear the chokepoint due to the sheer number of ships stuck (roughly 400), ongoing Iranian aggression, and the need for a broader degradation of Iran’s capabilities. There’s no timeline for when the Strait will be safe, and sustained security would be required to see meaningful movement. The disruption has pushed oil prices higher, with potential severe economic consequences if the Strait remains closed and producers face storage limits; Iraq has already cut output as a result.