Trump vows secure oil routes through Gulf

President Donald Trump has pledged that the United States will ensure safe passage for oil shipments from the Middle East, seeking to prevent a global energy shock as war between Iran and Israel expands across the region and threatens vital maritime routes.

Speaking as tensions intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, Trump signalled that Washington would take steps to safeguard tanker traffic and stabilise energy markets. The pledge followed warnings from Iran’s leadership and military commanders that shipping through the narrow waterway could face attack amid escalating hostilities. The strait is among the most critical energy corridors in the world, carrying roughly one-fifth of globally traded crude oil and substantial volumes of liquefied natural gas to markets in Asia, Europe and beyond.

Global markets reacted swiftly to the possibility of a prolonged disruption. Oil prices surged as tanker traffic slowed sharply and shipping companies reassessed the risks of navigating the Gulf. Analysts said even a temporary closure or prolonged insecurity in the waterway could send crude prices sharply higher and ripple through global inflation, fuel costs and shipping supply chains.

Trump’s statement outlined a broad strategy that includes naval protection for energy shipments and government-backed insurance for commercial vessels operating in the Gulf. Officials indicated that federal agencies could provide political risk coverage to shipping companies to offset the steep rise in war-risk premiums that followed Iran’s threats. Tanker operators and insurers have become increasingly cautious as attacks on vessels and drone strikes across the region have heightened fears of wider conflict.

Military planners in Washington are also weighing the deployment of naval escorts for oil tankers transiting the strait. Such operations have precedent: the US Navy escorted commercial vessels through the same waters during the late stages of the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, when attacks on shipping threatened global energy supplies. Defence officials said similar protection could be implemented again if shipping companies request it or if maritime security deteriorates further.

Conflict between Iran and Israel has intensified following coordinated strikes targeting Iranian military facilities and leadership structures. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region, including strikes on installations hosting US forces in Gulf states. Casualty figures in Iran have climbed above one thousand according to official estimates, while military personnel and civilians across the region have also been killed.

Retaliatory moves from Tehran have centred on the strategic choke point linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Iranian authorities warned that vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could face attack, prompting a sharp fall in shipping traffic. Satellite tracking and shipping data showed dozens of tankers either waiting outside the strait or diverting routes as insurers reassessed risk levels.

Energy analysts describe the strait as one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical pressure points. Roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day normally pass through the channel, along with major shipments of liquefied natural gas, particularly from Qatar. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait depend heavily on the corridor to deliver crude to global markets.

Disruption has already reverberated across financial markets. Brent crude prices climbed sharply amid concerns that a sustained halt in shipments could push oil towards triple-digit levels. Fuel costs in several economies rose alongside fears that energy inflation could complicate monetary policy decisions and slow economic growth.

Shipping firms and commodity traders are also grappling with operational uncertainty. Several major tanker operators suspended voyages through the strait as insurance premiums surged, while energy companies examined alternative export routes including pipelines that bypass the Gulf chokepoint. Such options remain limited, however, and cannot fully replace the volume normally transported through the waterway.

Trump’s assurance that the United States would protect energy shipments aims partly to calm those market fears. Energy experts say the announcement has already tempered some volatility by signalling that Washington intends to maintain freedom of navigation in the Gulf. Analysts also note that the United States has a strategic interest in preventing a prolonged blockade, given the broader economic implications for global trade and fuel prices.

The administration has framed its actions as necessary to maintain stability in energy markets and deter further escalation. Officials emphasised that ensuring uninterrupted oil flows remains a priority not only for the United States but also for allies and major importing economies dependent on Gulf supplies.

Military strategists caution that escort operations carry their own risks. Naval patrols could bring US forces into direct confrontation with Iranian naval units or affiliated militias operating in the Gulf. Tehran has repeatedly warned that foreign military intervention in the strait would provoke retaliation, raising the prospect of further escalation in an already volatile region.

Regional governments are also watching developments closely. Gulf states that host US military bases have become increasingly exposed to the conflict after missile and drone attacks targeted facilities linked to American operations. Several governments have raised security alerts and reinforced air defence systems around key energy infrastructure.