US Energy Secretary Chris Wright made assessments regarding the latest situation in the Strait of Hormuz during an interview at the Reuters Global Energy Forum. When asked about the number of ships passing through the strait since the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, Wright responded, 'I can say approximately 72 ships and 20 million barrels of oil in the last 24 hours.'
Wright stated that before the memorandum was signed, the amount of oil passing through the strait was at 7 million barrels per day, and today that figure has reached 20 million barrels. Referring to shipments via pipelines, Wright claimed that the oil flow from the Persian Gulf today is at a higher level compared to before the conflict.
Wright argued that Iran's mining of the shipping channel delayed the flow in the Strait of Hormuz, and that the strait needs to be cleared of mines to fully return to normal, which would require a few weeks of work.
Stating that the US can secure energy flow from the Gulf whether or not there is a deal with Iran, Wright said, 'Iran will not have the ability to close the Strait of Hormuz going forward. That is a critical matter—it was their most important leverage, and we are taking that leverage away from them.'