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The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has debunked claims implying that the United States Navy escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz.
The claim started making rounds when Energy Secretary Chris Wright made the statement in a now-deleted post.
“US Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure oil remains flowing to global markets,” Wright’s post read.
According to AFP, global crude oil prices dropped following Wright’s post.
The White House Press Secretary, however, debunked the claims during a press briefing on Tuesday,
“I can confirm that the US Navy has not escorted a tanker or a vessel at this time, though of course that’s an option,” said Leavitt.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards called the Energy Secretary’s claim a “pure falsehood”, warning US Navy vessels not to “dare” approach the Strait of Hormuz.
The Speaker of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad Ghalibaf, also mocked the claim in a post on X, saying it would only be possible on PlayStation.
“An oil tanker crossed Strait of Hormuz escorted by US Navy ships? Maybe on PlayStation!,” he wrote.
An oil tanker crossed Strait of Hormuz escorted by US Navy ships? Maybe on PlayStation!
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) March 10, 2026
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and Iranian authorities revealed that no fewer than 10 oil tankers in or near the Strait of Hormuz were struck, targeted or reported attacks between March 1 and 10.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway in the Gulf where nearly a fifth of global oil production passes through. But since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 26, plunging the Middle East into a crisis, many ships have avoided the area and are now rerouting, causing supply disruptions and increased oil prices.
It has also led to fuel hikes in Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Sierra Leone and many other countries across Africa and beyond.
