President Donald Trump recently announced that the U.S. military conducted a secret mission to help more than 200 commercial ships carrying over 100 million barrels of oil safely transit the Strait of Hormuz, bypassing Iranian disruptions in the critical waterway.
Trump’s Warning to Iran
Trump made the announcement on Wednesday, and the following day, he warned that the U.S. would hit Iran “very hard tonight” if no peace deal is reached, following recent strikes on Iranian targets.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil and gas normally flows, has faced major disruptions since Iran declared it largely closed in early March 2026 following the start of U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28.
U.S. officials described the operation as escorting and guiding commercial shipping rather than a covert seizure of Iranian oil. A senior U.S. military official told The New York Times the effort involved steering dozens of commercial vessels through the waterway.
As of June 11, 2026, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude traded around $89–$90 per barrel, while Brent crude was near $93 per barrel. Prices have fallen roughly 11–13% over the past month and about 20% from 2026 highs reached amid the initial conflict disruptions, when Brent approached or exceeded $116 per barrel in May.
Market Impact
Analysts attribute the decline partly to increased shipping through the strait via U.S.-supported operations, record U.S. production near 13.6 million barrels per day, and draws from Chinese reserves. However, uncertainty from ongoing strikes keeps markets volatile.
Trump stated the U.S. would hit Iran “very hard tonight” and threatened to assume “total control” of Iran’s oil and gas sectors, including Kharg Island, in the near future if no deal materializes.
Negotiations for a ceasefire and reopening of the strait continue, with Trump indicating a framework has been discussed but remains unsigned. Iran has rejected some terms and called certain ceasefire efforts “meaningless,” per CNN.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
