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Oil, ships, and threats
President Donald Trump said the United States had successfully helped move more than 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a previously undisclosed military operation, and he added that more than 200 commercial ships have safely traveled through the strait.
“Trump claims more than 100 million barrels of oil, 200 ships have safely made way through Strait of Hormuz The president referred to it as a "secret mission" conducted last month”
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "Last month, I directed our Great U.S. Military to execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships through the Strait of Hormuz."
Trump also told reporters at the White House, "We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard," linking the threat to Iran's downing of an Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.
The claims were echoed by ABC News, which reported Trump said the effort resulted in "more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil" and "more than 200 Commercial Ships" moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
ABC News said it could not immediately verify the accuracy of Trump's claims and the numbers of oil barrels and ships that he said had passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Energy secretary questioned
During a congressional hearing, US energy secretary Chris Wright was asked about the president's assertion that the United States had been "taking out" millions of barrels of oil from Iran, and Wright responded, "I'm unaware."
When pressed on whether that meant Trump was being untruthful, Wright defended the president, saying, "Oh no, I do not think the president is lying."
The Hill reported Trump said in a Truth Social post that he "directed" the military to "execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships" through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Hill also reported Trump said 22 ships were taken out at night because Iran couldn't detect them, adding that they "don't have any radar" after U.S. strikes destroyed it.
In the same Oval Office setting described by USA Today, Trump said the ships had been moving through the strait "late at night with no lights," and he tied the effort to preventing oil prices from spiking further.
Diplomacy at risk
Trump said the administration still preferred a diplomatic resolution, telling reporters, "We want a deal that is meaningful, we want a deal that works," even as he warned military action could begin immediately if negotiations did not produce a satisfactory outcome.
“Trump says US secured passage of more than 100M barrels of oil through Strait of Hormuz More than 200 commercial vessels ‘safely’ completed voyages through waterway as part of 'secret mission' of US military, says president Diyar Guldogan 10 June 2026•Update: 10 June 2026 WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Wednesday that a US mission helped ensure the passage of more than 100 million barrels of oil and over 200 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz”
USA Today reported that Iran's chokehold on the strait carried about 20% of the world's oil supply before the war, and it said the standoff has roiled the global economy while negotiations stalled.
The Times of India | Asian reported Trump claimed the operation helped stabilize oil markets and said, "Millions of barrels of oil has come out, and that's why it's at $85-$90 a barrel, instead of $250," while he also said, "We took out the other night 22 ships" late at night.
In the same reporting stream, USA Today said Iran shot down an American Apache helicopter near the strait on June 8, and it reported that U.S. Central Command said American forces retaliated with attacks on "air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz."
Capital Brief described Trump warning that the United States would attack Iran "very hard," and it tied the escalation to the downing of the Apache helicopter and to strikes on nearly 20 Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz.
