Archive · 20 Aug 2026
U.S. Opens Secret Oil Corridor Through Hormuz Amid Iran Stalemate
The United States has reportedly created a special sea route through the Strait of Hormuz.
The route helps oil tankers travel while the conflict with Iran continues.
Ships use a southern channel near Oman.
About 15 to 20 tankers reportedly pass through each night.
Together, they carry around 10 million barrels of oil each day.
Empty ships can also use the route to reach Gulf ports and pick up oil.
A U.S. task force in North Carolina helps organize the ships with Gulf partners.
The corridor is protected by American military forces, according to the report.
The United States says the strait is open, but Iran says it remains blocked.
The U.S. military has reportedly operated a secret shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz for several weeks.
The southern route along Oman’s coastline carries 15 to 20 tankers each night.
About 10 million barrels of oil reportedly move through the corridor daily, nearly half pre-conflict levels.
U.S.-led convoys also guide empty tankers into Gulf ports to load oil for international markets.
A Fort Bragg task force coordinates the operation with Gulf partners amid the continuing Iran conflict.
- Who
- The United States military, a Fort Bragg task force, regional Gulf partners, oil tanker operators, and Iran are involved or directly connected to the situation.
- What
- A reported U.S.-led maritime corridor is moving oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
- When
- The operation has reportedly been active for several weeks during a fragile 60-day ceasefire period.
- Where
- The corridor uses a southern channel along Oman’s coastline in the Strait of Hormuz, while coordination takes place at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- Why
- The operation is intended to keep crude oil moving from Gulf ports to international markets while the conflict continues.
U.S. Position
Iranian Position
Status of the Strait
U.S. Position
The United States says the Strait of Hormuz remains open and that Washington exercises total control over the passage.
Iranian Position
Iran maintains that the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, despite the reported U.S.-coordinated tanker corridor.
- Reported operator
- The United States military, through a task force operating from Fort Bragg
- Route
- A southern channel along the Omani coastline
- Nightly traffic
- Approximately 15 to 20 tankers
- Oil volume
- About 10 million barrels per day
- Pre-conflict comparison
- The reported volume is nearly half of pre-conflict levels
- Convoy support
- Empty tankers are guided into Gulf ports to load oil before returning to international markets
- Coordination
- Inbound and outbound convoys are organized with regional Gulf partners under American military direction
