In an interview with Sky News (UK) on March 12, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent affirmed that the US Navy will coordinate with the armies of allied countries to ensure maritime security as soon as military conditions permit. The goal of the operation is to restore the flow of goods and energy in the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important traffic "throat" - which is threatened by armed conflicts.
I believe that as soon as military conditions permit, the US Navy and an international alliance will deploy escort operations across this area," Mr. Bessent emphasized. The statement from a Finance instead of Defense leader shows that Washington is considering ensuring security in Hormuz as a top economic priority to prevent the rapid increase in oil prices.
Notably, Minister Scott Bessent directly denied reports that Iran had shelled and blockaded the Strait of Hormuz. He cited actual data showing that Iranian oil tankers and some Chinese-flagged ships were still circulating normally through the area. According to him, this proves that the entrance to the strait was not blocked as previously falsely rumored.
Currently, the US Treasury Department is closely coordinating with national security agencies to assess the most appropriate time for deploying forces.
