ISTANBUL,JUNE 25 — About 20 million barrels of crude oil have left the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours on 72 ships, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reported .
Washington will ensure oil flows through the key waterway even without a deal with Iran, Wright told the Reuters Global Energy Forum in New York.
“We have normal flow today,” Wright said, adding that the amount was similar to recent flow levels following the initial US-Iran deal to end the conflict.
“Iran will not have the ability to close the Strait of Hormuz in the future. That is the important thing, that is their main advantage, and we are taking that leverage away from them,” he said, adding that the Iranian military is gone.
He said many ships exiting the strait avoid the main shipping lanes due to mine-related risks and instead sail near the Iranian coast or along the southern route near Oman with military escorts.
The number of ships remains lower than usual, but most are larger vessels, helping to keep crude oil flows close to pre-war levels, he added.
A full return to normal navigation will still take several weeks, Wright said, noting that mine clearance efforts are needed in the strait.
Tanker movements across the strategic waterway have shown signs of recovery following the interim US-Iran peace deal, easing concerns about possible supply disruptions from the Persian Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil routes, with crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports from Gulf producers passing through the narrow waterway.
Latest maritime data shows commercial and energy-related ship traffic through the strait remains active, while more tankers are entering the Persian Gulf to pick up cargo as exporters seek to restore flows.
Oil prices fell this week as traffic in the strait improved, reducing the geopolitical risk premium that had pushed crude prices higher during the conflict.
— BERNAMA-ANADOLU
