U.S. Vice President JD Vance said there is no evidence that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz [1].
Control over the strait is critical because it serves as the world's most important oil transit chokepoint. Any successful closure would likely trigger a global energy crisis and cause oil prices to spike.
Speaking via reports from Arabic media, Vance said that the U.S. is successfully facilitating the export of between seven and 15 million barrels of oil per day [1]. This flow continues despite what the administration describes as Iranian attempts to shut down the waterway to achieve political goals [1].
"There is no evidence so far of the closure of Hormuz," Vance said [1].
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, remains a primary flashpoint for regional tension. The U.S. government maintains that keeping the waterway open is a strategic necessity, not only for the global economy but also to maintain pressure on Iran to prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons [1].
Vance said that the U.S. continues to succeed in moving the current volumes of oil [1]. The administration views the continued flow of energy as a sign that Iranian pressure tactics have failed to disrupt international maritime commerce.
"We are succeeding in getting out quantities ranging between 7 and 15 million barrels per day," Vance said [1].
“"There is no evidence so far of the closure of Hormuz,"”
The U.S. assertion that oil is flowing normally serves to calm global energy markets and signal that Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz are not currently viable. By framing the open waterway as a tool for nuclear non-proliferation, the administration links maritime security directly to its broader geopolitical strategy regarding Iran's nuclear program.
