White House declines to set timeline for securing Strait of Hormuz for oil tankers

ISTANBUL

The White House declined to commit Wednesday to a timeline for ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it was being actively assessed by relevant agencies.

"I don't want to commit to a timeline, but certainly it's something that is being calculated actively by both the Department of War and the Department of Energy," spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

The US Navy would escort oil tankers through the strait "if and when necessary," she added.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Monday the closure of the strait to transit, warning that any vessels attempting to cross would be attacked. The closure came in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks that began Saturday against Iran.

The strait is one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, with 20 million barrels of oil passing through daily. The closure has driven up shipping and insurance costs, and pushed global oil prices higher, raising concerns about broader economic repercussions.