U.S. Says Hormuz Oil Flows Partly Restored as Iran Threatens New Control Over Strait

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said oil and fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to roughly 7 million barrels per day, about half of the volume that had been trapped when the war with Iran began.

Speaking at an energy security conference in Houston, Wright said the United States intends to fully reopen the key waterway, with or without Iranian cooperation.

According to Wright, around 20 million barrels per day of shipments were blocked when the strait was shut at the start of the war in late February. Some supplies were later rerouted through alternative ports outside the Persian Gulf, leaving about 14 million barrels still stuck.

“This was a massive supply gap,” Wright said, adding that the U.S. is now moving to restore shipping flows directly.

Wright also said he hopes the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which was tapped to reduce the impact of the supply disruption, will be fully refilled.

Iran Threatens New Terms for Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a pending memorandum of understanding would address the lifting of the maritime blockade and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi claimed the strait falls under Iranian and Omani sovereignty and said its operation would not return to the way it was before the war.

He said Iran and Oman had reached “good results” in talks and may soon announce a joint statement and detailed plan. He also said services connected to the strait would no longer be free, while acknowledging that international law does not allow a formal transit toll.

In a direct threat, Araghchi warned that Iran’s military would intervene whenever Tehran decides it is necessary.

Nuclear and Regional Issues Remain Unresolved

Araghchi said no memorandum has been signed yet and that some terms could still change. He said nuclear issues and sanctions relief would be pushed to a second phase of talks expected to last 60 days.

He also said Iran would not abandon Lebanon, signaling continued backing for Hezbollah and Iran’s regional terror network.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoints. Iran’s threats show once again why the regime cannot be trusted to control global energy security or intimidate international shipping.