Summary
- The United States has restricted the hours during which oil tankers can pass through the Strait of Hormuz under the protection of US air-defence systems, according to a report by the Financial Times.
- US forces had previously provided overnight air-defence coverage to vessels travelling through the southern section of the Strait of Hormuz.
- However, since the beginning of this month, the US maritime coordination centre has introduced two specific time windows during which it can provide air-defence protection, according to the report.
The United States has restricted the hours during which oil tankers can pass through the Strait of Hormuz under the protection of US air-defence systems, according to a report by the Financial Times.
The decision follows a series of nighttime attacks by Iran on commercial vessels travelling through the strategically important waterway, the newspaper reported. The move could affect the timing of tanker movements through the strait, which serves as a critical route for global energy supplies.
US forces had previously provided overnight air-defence coverage to vessels travelling through the southern section of the Strait of Hormuz. However, since the beginning of this month, the US maritime coordination centre has introduced two specific time windows during which it can provide air-defence protection, according to the report.
The new arrangement means that tankers may have to adjust their schedules to pass through the designated area during periods when US protection is available. Vessels travelling outside those windows could face greater security risks amid heightened tensions in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas shipments. Any disruption to traffic through the waterway can quickly affect international energy markets and raise concerns about supply security.
The reported change comes as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high and attacks on shipping in the region continue to raise concerns among international energy and maritime operators. Tanker companies are closely monitoring security conditions as they assess the safest routes and schedules for transporting crude oil and other energy products.
The United States has not indicated that it is ending protection for commercial vessels in the area. Instead, the reported move appears to limit the availability of air-defence coverage to specific periods, requiring ships to coordinate their passage more carefully.
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