US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent on Thursday told an interviewer with UK-based Sky News that “…my belief that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through.”
“There are, in fact, tankers coming through now, Iranian tankers, I believe some Chinese flag tankers have come through. So, we know that they have not mined the straits.”
File photo: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Iranian attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure in the Gulf had earlier pushed oil back above $100 a barrel, with stocks dipping worldwide on Thursday.
The hike in oil prices came despite the shock announcement the previous day that developed countries would release 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves – nearly half from the US.
During the wide-ranging interview, Bessent was called to the “Situation Room”, an intelligence facility in the West Wing of the White House, and when asked if the escort had been discussed, he did not deny it, saying: “Your words, not mine.”
The interview is here:
https://news.sky.com/share/13518833
