U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated that the U.S. Navy may begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz by the end of this month. In an interview on Thursday, Wright disclosed that while American military efforts are currently concentrated on dismantling Iran's offensive capabilities and weapons production infrastructure, the focus could shift to safeguarding maritime traffic within the coming weeks. As the joint U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran enters its second week, Wright stated, "Action will be taken soon, but conditions are not yet in place—we are not fully prepared." When asked whether escort operations could commence before the month concludes, Wright responded, "I believe it is highly possible." Prior to these remarks, Wright had posted on social media on Tuesday claiming that U.S. forces had successfully escorted tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, though the post was later removed. Approximately 20% of the world's oil and natural gas transits through this critical waterway. The White House subsequently clarified Wright's statement, denying that any escort missions had been carried out. Since the joint U.S.-Israel military action against Iran began on February 28, trade through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly halted, and disruptions to Persian Gulf oil shipments have driven a 40% surge in oil prices over a short period. On Thursday, international crude futures briefly surpassed the $100 per barrel mark. The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that, as part of an international effort to stabilize oil prices, the U.S. would release 172 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Current U.S. strategic reserves stand at approximately 415 million barrels, representing 60% of total capacity. Wright explained that the U.S. plans to exchange the released crude for over 200 million barrels of future deliveries, as forward crude futures prices are currently significantly lower than spot prices. He noted, "This will ultimately help us replenish the strategic reserve."