US Escorts Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz, Eroding Iran's Control

The United States is escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, weakening Iran's control over the vital waterway. This new strategy involves nightly convoys of 15 to 20 ships protected by American warships and aircraft. The escorts follow the destruction of Iranian radar installations, allowing tankers to travel with transponders off under US protection. While Iran has attacked at least 15 vessels since June, the volume of oil transiting has reached five to ten million barrels daily, preventing oil prices from soaring. Washington is now escalating economic pressure, announcing sanctions against countries supporting Iran. However, analysts question whether the US can effectively target China, which buys 80 percent of Iranian oil but is also a key supplier of rare earths to America.