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According to a report by Reuters on Friday June 12, 2026, US military operations are helping move around 7 million barrels of oil per day out of the Persian Gulf, according to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, in comments that shed new light on efforts to keep energy flows moving through the region.
Speaking at an industry event in Houston on Thursday, Wright said roughly half of the oil that had been constrained around the Strait of Hormuz is now moving again with US military assistance. He linked the disruption to tensions following the US-Israeli war with Iran.
“We have a military effort that we’ve not talked a lot about, which started more recently to get cargoes out,” Wright said.
He added that no Iranian crude is currently managing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, though he expects that situation could change if a broader agreement is reached. If talks fail, he suggested the US military would continue efforts to restore and maintain flows through the waterway.
The volume now moving—about 7 million barrels per day—surprised some industry observers. Dan Pickering, chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners, said the figure was higher than many in the market had anticipated.
Analysts at the same event also noted that oil prices in the $88 range suggest traders had been expecting significantly lower volumes, with estimates previously closer to 3–4 million barrels per day, according to Rebecca Babin of CIBC Private Wealth.
Wright also indicated that limited sanctions relief on Iran could be part of any future agreement, depending on negotiations. He further suggested that options such as a temporary US gasoline tax holiday during the summer were under consideration as a way to help ease fuel prices for consumers.
