US Navy could escort vessels in Strait of Hormuz with international coalition, Bessent says

LONDON, March 12 (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy, possibly in conjunction with an international coalition, will escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz whenever militarily feasible, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Sky News on Thursday.

“I believe that as soon as it is militarily feasible, the U.S. Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will escort the ships in transit,” Bessent said.

He said the plan to escort the ships would be implemented as soon as the United States “has full control over the skies and (Iran’s) ability to rebuild missiles is completely disrupted.”

US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent response have increased regional tensions and paralyzed shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting vital oil and gas flows in the Middle East and causing energy prices to rise.

Increasing the risks for the global economy, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard announced that it would block oil shipments from the Gulf unless the US and Israeli attacks end.

Bessent said, “Actually, Iranian tankers are coming right now, and I believe Chinese-flagged tankers are also passing through here. Therefore, we know that they do not mine the straits.”

(Reporting by William James and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Caitlin Webber and David Ljunggren)